THE SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND REACTIVITY OF THE BINUCLEAR COMPLEXES [(OC)(5)MC(O)(CH2)(N)C(O)M(CO)(5)] (M=MN, RE N=4-8, 10) AND [(OC)(5)M(CH2)NM(CO)(5)] (M=MN, RE N=4-8, 10 AND M=RE, N=9)

The mu(1,n)-alkanediyl complexes [(OC)(5)M(CH2)(n)M(CO)(5)] (M = Mn, Re; n = 4-8, 10) have been synthesized from the mu-diacyl compounds [(OC)(5)MC(O) (CH2)(n)C(O)M(CO)(5)] by thermal decarbonylation. [(OC)(5)Re(CH2)(9)Re(CO)(5)] was prepared by the reaction of Na[Re(CO)(5)] with 1,9-dibromononane. Some reactivity studies are reported. The effects of changing the length of the alkanediyl chain and the metal from Mn to Re are discussed. The results of this study are compared with known properties and reactions of mononuclear alkyl and acyl compounds of the type [M(R)(CO)(5)] and [M(COR)(CO)(5)] (M = Mn, Re). Rates of decarbonylation and carbonylation of some of the complexes have been measured and discussed.