Аннотация:The UV/Vis absorption spectrum of a single crystal of manganese carbodiimide, MnNCN, has been measured and theoretically analyzed using both the angular-overlap model (AOM) and the effective Hamiltonian crystal field (EHCF) method. Independent from the method used, we find a somewhat higher ligand-field splitting (10 Dq ranging from 7300 up to 8842 cm(-1) depending on the estimation procedure used) compared to Mn-O chromophores and a smaller nephelauxetic ratio (beta = 0.62 divided by 0.67). In addition, the Mn-N bond within the Mn(II)N(6) octahedra is lacking significant pi interaction.