The use of the ligands, diethynyldiphenylsilane and 1, 3-diethynyltetramethyldisiloxane, in the synthesis of Group 8 metal σ-acetylide mononuclear complexes is demonstrated. New complexes trans-[(dppm) 2ClMC CSi (Ph) 2C CH](M= Ru 1; Os 2) and trans-[(dppm) 2ClMC CSi (Me) 2–O–Si (Me) 2C CH](M= Ru, 3; Os, 4) featuring different silyl units were prepared from a mixture of cis-[M (dppm) 2Cl2] and HC CSi (Ph) 2C CH or HC CSi ( ...