The chemistry of organometallic compounds of Mn(II) are unusual among the
transition metals due to the high ionic character of the Mn(II)-C bond. The reactivity of organomanganese compounds can be compared to that of
organomagnesium and
organozinc compounds. The
electronegativity of Mn (1.55) is comparable to that of Mg (1.31) and Zn (1.65), making the carbon atom (EN = 2.55)
nucleophilic. The
reduction potential of Mn is also intermediate between Mg and Zn. Organomanganese halides react with
aldehydes and
ketones to the
alcohol, with
carbon dioxide to the
carboxylic acid (tolerating higher
operating temperature than corresponding RLi or RMgBr counterparts),
sulfur dioxide and
isocyanates behaving like soft
Grignard reagents. They do not react with
esters,
nitriles, or
amides. They are more sensitive to steric than to electronic effects. With
acyl halides RMnX compounds form the corresponding ketones. This reaction is
chemoselective and has been applied in
organic synthesis for this reason. Certain manganese amides of the type RR1NMnR2 are used for the deprotonation of ketones forming manganese
enolates. Just like lithium enolates they can further react with silyl chlorides to
silyl enol ethers, with alkyl halides in alpha-alkylation and with aldehydes and ketones to beta-keto-alcohols. Manganese enolates can also be obtained by
transmetalation of manganese halides with Li, Mg, K or Na enolates. Manganese halides are catalysts in several
homo- and crosscoupling reactions involving
stannanes and Grignards in which organomanganese intermediates play a part. Likewise coupling reactions involving organomanganese halides are catalysed by Pd, Ni, Cu and Fe compounds. Manganese chloride is a precursor to organomanganese reagents in organic chemistry.
Activated manganese Commercial manganese powder is not suited for the synthesis of organomanganese compounds. In 1996 Rieke introduced activated manganese (see
Rieke metal) obtained by reaction of anhydrous
manganese(II) chloride with
lithium metal in a solution of a catalytic amount of
naphthalene in THF. Other reducing agents are
potassium graphite and magnesium. Activated manganese facilitates the Mn version of the
Barbier reaction and the
pinacol coupling. ==High-valent compounds==