The ion-separated complex
2[Li(thf
![](https://www.rsc.org/images/entities/char_200a.gif)
)
4
]
+
[Mn(C
12
H
8
N)
4
]
2-
1 has been obtained from the
nucleophilic substitution reaction of
[Mn{N(SiMe
3
)
2
}
2
]·2thf
with Li[C
12
H
8
N] (1∶4 equivalents)
(thf = tetrahydrofuran,
C
12
H
8
N = carbazol-9-yl), and the
molecular species
[Mn(C
12
H
8
N)
2
]·3thf 2 from the
acid–base reaction of
[Mn{N(SiMe
3
)
2
}
2
]·2thf
and C
12
H
8
NH (1∶2 equivalents). They are
among the few amidomanganese(
II) complexes containing simple
(sterically undemanding) dialkyl- or diaryl-amido groups to be
characterised. The crystal structures of both were determined: 1
contains the first tetraamidomanganese(
II) dianion and 2
possesses the highest co-ordination number for Mn
II
in such a
compound.