Reaction of LK (L = HC(CMeNAr)(2), Ar = 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)) and MnCl2(THF)(1.5) in THF unexpectedly resulted in the formation of the trinuclear complex LMn(mu-Cl)(2)Mn(THF)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)MnL (1) in good yield. The substitution reactions of 1 with C3H5MgCl and PhCCLi, respectively, provided the monomeric LMnC3H5(THF) (2) and the dimeric [LMn(mu-CCPh)](2) (3) in moderate yield. Complexes 1-3 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. The structures show that compound 1 contains an ideal planar Mn3Cl4 core and a linear Mn-3 trimer, the allyl ligand in 2 is in an eta(1) mode, and there is pi-interaction between the triple bond and the metal center in 3
