Abstract Thermally robust metallacycles [M (η-C 5 H 5) 2 L](L[(2-CH 2 C 6 H 4) 2] 2−, M Ti, Zr, Hf) and [SnPh 2 L] have been obtained from the newly developed reagents, L [MgCl (thf) n] 2 and L [Li (tmeda)] 2, as has the silylated derivative,[2-(Me 3 SiCH 2) C 6 H 4] 2. A new radical anion of 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene derived from the reaction of lithium and LCl 2 or LBr 2 in thf has been detected.