Treatment of [Mn(CO)5Br] (1) with a slight excess of Me3SnC = CPh affords the known species [(CO)5Mn(C = CPh)] (2), whereas reaction between 1 and Me3SnC = CRC = CSnMe3 (R = p-C6H4-C6H4) gives the bimetallic complex [(CO)5MnC = CRC = CSnMe3] (3). This latter species is a good precursor for other syntheses, and treatment of 3 with a further equivalent of 1 gives [(CO)5MnC = CRC = CMn(CO)5] (4), while 3 with trans-[Pd(PBu3)2Cl2] affords [(CO)5MnC = CRC = CPd(PBu3)2Cl] (5).