The ion-separated complex 2[Li(thf) 4 ] ϩ [Mn(C 12 H 8 N) 4 ] 2Ϫ 1 has been obtained from the nucleophilic substitution reaction of [Mn{N(SiMe 3 ) 2 } 2 ]ؒ2thf with Li[C 12 H 8 N] (1 : 4 equivalents) (thf = tetrahydrofuran, C 12 H 8 N = carbazol-9-yl), and the molecular species [Mn(C 12 H 8 N) 2 ]ؒ3thf 2 from the acid-base reaction of [Mn{N(SiMe 3 ) 2 } 2 ]ؒ2thf and C 12 H 8 NH (1 : 2 equivalents). They are among the few amidomanganese() complexes containing simple (sterically undemanding) dialkyl-or diaryl-amido groups to be characterised. The crystal structures of both were determined: 1 contains the first tetraamidomanganese() dianion and 2 possesses the highest co-ordination number for Mn II in such a compound.