The appropriate halocarbyne precursors of choice can be reacted with organolithium reagents to afford the respective lithiocarbyne derivate by virtue of lithium/halogen exchange. This species can serve as a lynchpin for subsequent carbide linkage with an additional metal complex. Phosphine-based analogues were first introduced by Templeton and co. These types of complexes can be characterized crystallographically and are distinguishable by their C symmetry.