Mnz(CO)lo, ReMn(CO)lo, and Rez(CO)lo attach thermal electrons in the gas phase and lose either a CO or an M(C0)5 radical. The extent of M(C0)5 loss decreases in the order M I I~( C O )~~ > ReMn(CO)lo > Re2(CO)lo. No M(CO)5 loss is observed for Re2(CO)lo, and both Mn(CO), and Re(CO), are lost from ReMn(CO)lo. Assuming that there is no energy barrier for charge transfer between Re(CO), and Mn(CO)< leads to the conclusion that D(Re(CO),-Mn(CO),) < EA(MII(CO)~) N EA(Re(CO),. HCI and other acids fail to transfer a proton at an observable rate to Mn(CO),-, Re(CO),-, Mn2(C0)-, ReMn(CO)-, and Re2(C0)9-. Assuming this is because the proton transfers are endothermic leads to the conclusion that the proton affinities of the unreactive negative ions are less than that of C1-. Combining the conclusions about the radical electron affinities with proton affinity and bond strength data from the literature gives EA(Re(C0)J = EA(Mn(CO)5) 2.43 f 0.21 eV. The gas-phase electron-attachment processes are found to closely resemble the reactions of radiolytically produced solvated electrons. The proton affinities of Mn2(CO)lo, ReMn(CO)lo, and Re2(CO)lo are found to be 774 f 13, 794 f 6, and 805 f 5 kJ/mol, respectively. Comparison with proton affinities of M(CO)5CH3 species suggests that substituting a methyl group for M(CO), in the M2(CO)lo has very little effect on the proton affinity.(1) Elian, M.; Hoffmann, R. Inorg. Chem. 1975, 14, 1058-1076. Elian, M.; Chen, M. M. L.; Mingos, D. M. P.; Hoffmann, R. Ibid. 1976, 15, 1148-1 155. Schilling, B. E. R.; Hoffmann, R.; Lichtenberger, D. L.