Transition metal carbyne complexes are most common for the early transition metals, especially niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium. They can also have low-valence metals as well as high-valence metals. 
The first Fischer carbyne complex was reported in 1973. Two years later in 1975, the first "Schrock carbyne" was reported.
Many high-valent carbyne complexes have since been prepared, often by dehydrohalogenation of carbene complexes. Alternatively, amino-substituted carbyne ligands sometimes form upon protonation of electron-rich isonitrile complexes. Similarly, O-protonation of μ-CO ligands in clusters gives hydroxycarbyne complexes. Vinyl ligands have been shown to rearrange into carbyne ligands. Addition of electrophiles to vinylidene ligands also affords carbyne complexes.