Alkyne to carbyne coupling reactions of the unsaturated methoxycarbyne-bridged complex [Mo2(η5-C5H5)2(μ-COMe)(μ-PCy2)(CO)2]

The relatively open edge-bridging bioctahedral structure of the title complex allows its reaction with terminal or internal alkynes under moderate thermal activation to give with good yield products having a propenyl-ylidene ligand bridging the dimetal centre, derived from the coupling of the alkyne to the methoxycarbyne ligand.