Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of Mn(ii) dimers [CpMn(μ-X)]<SUB>2</SUB> (Cp = C<SUB>5</SUB>H<SUB>5</SUB>; X = RNH, R1R2N, C&z.tbd;CR)

Manganocene, Cp₂Mn, has been employed as a precursor in the synthesis of a range of Mn(ii) dimers of the type [CpMn(μ-X)]₂ [X = 8-NHC₉H₆N (<compoundref>1</compoundref>), N(Ph)(C₅H₄N) (<compoundref>2</compoundref>), N(4-EtC₆H₄)(C₅H₄N) (<compoundref>3</compoundref>) and C&z.tbd;CPh (<compoundref>4</compoundref>)] as well as the bis-adduct [Cp₂Mn{HN&z.dbd;C(NMe₂)₂}₂] (<compoundref>5</compoundref>). The solid-state structures of <compoundref>1</compoundref>–<compoundref>5</compoundref> are reported. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements have been used to assess the extent of Mn(μ-X)Mn communication within the dimers of <compoundref>1</compoundref>–<compoundref>4</compoundref> as a function of the bridging ligands (X).