The novel organometallic aqua complex [(CO)(3)Mn(H(2)O)(3)](+) (1(+)) was obtained through hydrolysis of the analogous acetone complex. IR [nu(CO) = 2051, 1944 cm(-)(1)] and (17)O NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of a fac tricarbonyl unit. Potentiometric titrations established that the trimer [(CO)(3)Mn(3)(OH)(4)](-) was the principal condensation product in the pH range >6 prior to slow formation of the tetramer [[(CO)(3)Mn](OH)](4). Water exchange in 1(+), determined by NMR line broadening as k(ex) = 19 +/- 4 s(-)(1) at 298 K, is four orders faster than with the analogous Re complex. The activation volume DeltaV(++) = -4.5 +/- 0.4 cm(3) mol(-1) is indicative of an associatively activated (I(a)) process.