mu-Bis(diphenylphosphino)methane- P : P '-octacarbonyldimanganese(Mn-Mn) and its toluene hemisolvate

The Mn-Mn bonds in the two independent molecules of the unsolvated title co mpound, [Mn-2(C25H22P2)(CO)(8)], (I), are 2.9714 (7) and 2.9746 (7) Angstro m. This bond is distinctly shortened in the toluene hemisolvate, [Mn-2(C25H 22P2)(CO)(8)].0.5C(7)H(8), (II), to 2.9338 (14) Angstrom and this shortenin g is accompanied by an increase in magnitude of the P-Mn-Mn-P torsion angle [26.93 (3) and 28.44 (3)degrees in (I), and 33.25 (7)degrees in (II)], whi le the P . . .P 'bite' is much less affected [3.092 (2) and 3.099 (2) Angst rom in (I), and 3.091 (3) Angstrom in (II)]. The toluene solvate molecule i n (II) lies on a twofold axis.