The eta2-ethene dihydride [(triphos)Ir(H)2-(C2H4)]BPh4 (1; triphos = MeC(CH2PPh2)3) reacts in the solid state with ethyne (4 atm) at 70-degrees-C to give five different organometallic products, namely [(triphos)-Ir(eta4-C6H6)]BPh4 (2), [(triphos)Ir(eta4-C6H8)]BPh4 (3), [(triphos)Ir(eta4-C4H6)]BPh4 (4), [(triphos)Ir(H)(eta3-MeC3H4)]BPh4 (5-anti), and [(triphos)Ir(H)(eta3-MeC3H4V-BPh4 (5-syn), and but-2-ene. At 100-degrees-C, the solid-gas reaction produces catalytic amounts of benzene, the real catalyst being the eta4-benzene complex 2. Comparison with fluid solution systems provides evidence for the control exerted by the constraining environment of the crystal lattice of the organometallic complex on the reaction.