X-ray evidence of CN bridging in bimetallic complexes based on [M(CN)8]4- (M = Mo, W). The crystal structure of [[Mn(bpy)2]2(mu-NC)2[Mo(CN)6]2(mu-CN)2[Mn(bpy)2]2].8H2O.

Hexanuclear {[Mn(bpy)2]2(μ-NC)2[Mo(CN)6]2(μ-CN)2[Mn(bpy)2]2}· 8H2O is formed in the reaction of the [Mo(CN)8]4- complex with labile cis-[Mn(bpy)2Cl2] in aqueous solution. The X-ray structure of the Mn4Mo2 cluster reveals an octahedral geometry with Mn atoms in a rectangular array. The Mo units located on the axis almost orthogonal to the Mn plane have four bridging and four terminal cyano ligands arranged in a square antiprismatic geometry. Vibrational data for thr Mn4Mo2 cluster and its W analogue are reported.