α-Hydrogen abstraction from the neopentylidene complex [Cl3 (MeOCH2CH2Ome) Ta (CHCMe3)] by (Me3CCH2) 2Zn results in the bridging neopentylidyne complexes [{Cl2 (MeOCH2CH2OMe) Ta (µ-CCMe3)} 2Zn-(µ-Cl) 2] and [{Cl2 (MeOCH2CH2OMe) Ta (µ- CCMe3)} Zn (CH2CMe3) Cl]; the crystal structure of the first complex reveals the co- ordination of two TaCCMe3 fragments to one ZnCl2 molecule.