The influence of electronegative substituents X on the structure of the Mn–H–Si unit in Cp(OC)2Mn[η2-H(SiH3−nXn)] is studied.
The Si⋯H distance in Cp(OC)2Mn[η2-H(SiH3−nXn)] results from two opposite effects.
A new model explaining all observed changes in the η2-SiH bond length is proposed.
The Mn–H bond is resistant to electronic effects in the SiR3 group.
Considerable influence on the Mn⋯Si distance is observed.