Pentacarbonyl{methoxy-[1-(畏5-4-methoxy-6-phenylcyclohexadienyl)tricarbonylmanganese]carbene}chromium (5) accessible from (畏5-1-bromo-4-methoxy-6-phenylcyclohexadienyl)tricarbonylmanganese (4) and Cr(CO)6 undergoes a chromium-templated benzannulation with 3-hexyne to give monometallic Cr complex 12 in 60% yield. The key feature of this reaction is the participation of a conjugated double bond of the 畏5-cyclohexadienyl-Mn moiety in the [3+2+1] benzannulation reaction. The X-ray structure of complex 12 reveals a syn position of the phenyl group with respect to the Cr tripod, supporting the participation of the Mn moiety in the benzannulation process.