Synthesis and Reactivity of Manganese Tricarbonyl Complexes of the Centropolyindanes 10-Methyltribenzotriquinacene and Fenestrindane

The cationic manganese tricarbonyl moiety is readily coordinated to an arene ring of the centropolyindanes 10-methyltribenzotriquinacene (MTBT) and fenestrindane (FET) to afford [(MTBT)Mn(CO)₃]⁺ (1) and [(FET)Mn(CO)₃]⁺ (2). An X-ray structure of 1 shows that the metal is coordinated to the convex face of the MTBT ligand. Both 1 and 2 are electrophilically activated and readily undergo regioselective and stereoselective addition reactions with mild nucleophiles.