The Pd0/AuI-mediated coupling of the stannylcarbyne [W(![[triple bond, length as m-dash]](http://www.rsc.org/images/entities/char_e002.gif)
CSnnBu3)(CO)2(Tp*)] (1) and 6-bromo-2,2′-bipyridine or 6,6′-dibromo-2,2′-bipyridine gives new carbynes functionalised on the carbyne carbon(s) with a bipyridyl group. These new ‘metallo-ligands’ undergo protonation at the pyridyl nitrogens, metallation of the tungsten–carbon triple bond with [AuCl(SMe2)], and metallation of the bipyridyl moiety with K[PtCl3(C2H4)]·H2O, [ReBr(CO)5] and [MCl(COD]2 (M = Ir, Rh; COD = η4-cycloocta-1,5-diene).
