Alkynylacetal derivatives of Ni(II) and Fe(II) were synthesised using CuI in Et3N from equimolar amounts of HC=CCH(OEt)(2) with Ni (eta(5)-C5H5) (PPh3) Br or Fe (eta(5)-C5H5) (CO)(2)Cl, respectively. Deprotection of the Ni (II) complex Ni (eta(5)-C5H5) (PPh3) C=CCH (OEt)(2) (1) with oxalic acid conveniently yields the alkynylaldehyde complex Ni (eta(5)-C5H5) (PPh3) C=C-CHO (2), whereas the Fe(II) complex could not be isolated from Fe(eta(5)-C5H5)(CO)(2)C=CCH(OEt)(2) (3) under similar conditions. The crystal structure of 1 has been determined and represents the first structural characterisation of a metalloalkynylacetal. Principal dimensions include Ni-P, 2.1301(10), 2.1376(10) Angstrom, Ni-C-alkyne, 1.853(4), 1.840(4) Angstrom, -C=C- 1.194(5), 1.193(4) Angstrom and P-Ni-C-alkyne 90.27(11), 90.90(10)degrees in the two independent molecules A and B, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.