N-Heterocyclic Phosphenium Complex of Manganese: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity in Ammonia Borane Dehydrogenation.

A neutral N-heterocyclic phosphenium complex of manganese was synthesised by a metathesis approach and characterised by IR, NMR, and XRD studies. The short P-Mn distance suggests a substantial metal-ligand double bond character. Reaction with a hydride produced an anionic phosphine complex, which was also characterised by IR and NMR spectroscopy and, after anion exchange, a single-crystal XRD study.