A new synthetic entry to phosphinophosphinidene complexes. Synthesis and structural characterisation of the first side-on bonded and the first terminally bonded phosphinophosphinidene zirconium complexes [mu-(1,2:2-eta-tBu2P=P)[Zr(Cl)Cp2]2] and [[Zr(PPhMe2)Cp2](eta1)-P-PtBu2)].

The reactions of lithiated diphosphanes with transition metal chlorides constitute a new general entry to phosphinophosphinidene complexes: the reaction of Cp2ZrCl2(Cp = C5H5) with tBu2P-P(SiMe3)Li (molar ratio approximately 1:1) yields [mu-(1,2:2-eta-tBu2P=P)[Zr(Cl)Cp2]2]; the reaction of Cp2ZrCl2 with tBu2P-P(SiMe3)Li (molar ratio approximately 1:2) and an excess of PPhMe2 in DME yields the first terminally bonded phosphinophosphinidene complex, [[Zr(PPhMe2)Cp2](eta1-P-PtBu2)].