Mono- and Zerovalent Manganese Alkyl Complexes Supported by the α,α‘-Diiminato Pyridine Ligand: Alkyl Stabilization at the Expense of Catalytic Performance

The reaction of {[2,6-(i-Pr)2PhNC(Me)]2(C5H3N)}MnCl2 with MeLi or Me3SiCH2Li afforded reduction toward rare examples of non-cyclopentadienyl and non-carbonyl Mn(I) and Mn(0) alkyl derivatives.