Tantalum complexes of the type Ta (CHCMe3) X3 (PR3) 2 (X= C1 or Br) react with W (0)(OCMeJ4 to give [Ta (OCMe3) 4X] 2 and W (0)(CHCMe3) X2 (PR& In W (0)(CHCMe3) X2 (PR3) z the phosphine ligands are trans and the oxo and neopentylidene ligands are cis to one another. Five-coordinate complexes can be prepared by scavenging one phosphine ligand with PdC1z (PhCN) 2. Addition of 1 or 2 equiv of AlC13 to W (0)(CHCMe3) C12 ( ...