Abstract The suitability of the vinylsilyliron complexes [Cp (CO) 2 Fe] RSi (Cl) CH CH 2 [R= Me (1), Ph (2), Bu t (3), Fe (CO) 2 Cp (4)] and of [Cp (CO) 2 Fe] MeSi (Cl) CMe CH 2 (14) as precursors for the generation of silaethene derivatives has been investigated. The starting compounds 1 to 4 and 14 can be obtained from Me (Vi) SiCl 2, Ph (Vi) SiCl 2, HSiCl 3 and MeSiCl 3, respectively, by judicious combination of published procedures. They have ...