# Steric Control in Low-Valent Mn Diamide Complexes: Contrasting Magnesium and Manganese in N2 and Benzene Activation

## TL;DR

Scientists created a manganese complex with unique properties, showing how it can activate nitrogen and benzene differently than magnesium complexes.

## Contribution

The study reveals how low-valent manganese diamide complexes can activate N2 and benzene through distinct mechanisms involving filled d orbitals.

## Key findings

- A manganese complex with the longest known Mn–Mn bond was synthesized.
- N2 activation occurs at high-spin MnI centers in this complex.
- Benzene undergoes oxidative addition in MnI intermediates due to accessible d orbitals.

## Abstract

Reduction of MnII precursors with bulky diamide
ligands
provided access to a complex with the longest known Mn–Mn bond
and to a rare example of N2 activation at high-spin MnI centers. While some instructive parallels can thus be drawn
to observations made for Mg analogues, the accessibility of filled
d orbitals in the respective MnI intermediates leads to
a distinct behavior toward benzene that undergoes an oxidative addition.