Mono- and di-methyl complexes of the type (eta-C5H5)Nb-(NR)(Me)(Cl) (R=(t)Bu, 2,6-(Pr2C6H)-Pr-i(3)) and (eta-C(5)Me(5))M(N-2,6(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))(Me)(2) (M = Nb, Ta) have been prepared by treatment of (eta-C(5)R(5)('))M(NR)(Cl-2) with one or two equivalents of methylmagnesium chloride respectively. Trimethylphosphine adducts are readily formed from the mono-methyl but not from the dimethyl compounds. The molecular structure of (eta-C5H5)Nb(N(t)Bu)(Me)(Cl) is reported.