The reaction of [Cr(CO) 5 (THF)] and pentaphenyl-1,2,3-triphospholene affords a single stereoisomer of [(pentaphenyl-1,3-η-1,2,3-triphospholene)(Cr(CO) 5 ) 2 ] (6). Visible light photolysis of 6 causes a ring contraction and [(trans-tetraphenyl-1,2-η-1,2-diphosphetene)(Cr-(CO) 5 ) 2 ] (7a) is formed, whose stereochemistry was elucidated by X-ray crystallography. trans-1,2-Dichloro-3,4-di-tert-butyl-1,2-diphosphetene (2a) and [Fe 2 (CO) 9 ] form the σ complexes 8b), depending on the relative concentration of the starting materials. 8a has been proven to be an intermediate in the formation of 8b. Heating of neat 8b in a vacuum leads to the elimination of the chlorine substituents in an intramolecular redox reaction and [(3,4-di-tert-butyl-η 4 -1,2-diphosphete)-Fe(CO) 3 ] (9a) is formed. This is the first specific reaction, leading to a 1,2-diphosphete complex. 9a and its 1,3-isomer 10a react with [Cr(CO) 5 (THF)] to form the mono-and diaddition products [1-η-{(3,4-di-tert-butyl-η 4 -1,2-diphosphete)Fe(CO) 3 }Cr(CO) 5 ] (9b), [1,2-η-{(3,4-di-tert-butyl-η 4 -1,2-diphosphete)Fe(CO) 3 }(Cr(CO) 5 ) 2 ] (9c), [1-η-{(2,4-di-tert-butyl-η 4 -1,3-diphosphete)Fe(CO) 3 }Cr(CO) 5 ] (10b), and [1,3-η-{(2,4-di-tert-butyl-η 4 -1,3-diphosphete)-Fe(CO) 3 }(Cr(CO) 5 ) 2 ] (10c), respectively. X-ray crystallographic studies for 9c and 10c give some insight into the bonding situation of the compounds. σ-and π-complexing properties of the diphosphete ligands are almost independent of each other and significant back-bonding from the iron atom to the ligand π* orbitals occurs in both cases.