The P(bth)(2)(-) anion as a Janus head staple between lithium and manganese (bth = benzothiazol-2-yl, C7H4NS)

Deprotonation of HP(bth)(2) (1) affords the lithium phosphanide [(Et2O)(2)Li(bth)(2)P], (2) with both nitrogen atoms coordinated to the lithium atom while in the heterobimetallic complex [Li(bth)(2)P{Mn(CO)(2)Cp}(2)](n) (3) additionally the phosphorus atom mu-bridges two Mn(CO)(2)Cp residues.