Lewis basicity of cyanodicarbonyl(π-mesitylene)manganese(I)

Abstract

The complexes (C₆H₃Me₃)Mn(CO)₂CN and (C₆H₆)Mn(CO)₂CN appear to be protonated at the cyanide ligand in aqueous solution. Attempted isolation of the fluoroborate salt of the cation [(C₆H₃Me₃)Mn(CO)₂(CNH)]⁺ leads unexpectedly to the isolation of the BF₃ adduct, [(C₆H₃Me₃)Mn(CO)₂(CNBF₃)]. The Lewis acids Et₃O⁺ and Ph₃C⁺ also attack the cyanide ligand in (C₆H₃Me₃)Mn(CO)₂CN to yield cationic species isolable as hexafluorophosphate salts.