Hydrogen reacts with a mixture of cobalt bromide and phenylmagnesium bromide to yield a novel cobalt hydride species. EXAFS analysis reveals a binuclear cobalt hydride complex comprising three absorbers, principally a Co–Co centre, and also two types of supporting hydride ligands. Further, DFT, XANES, ¹H NMR spectra and elemental analyses also support the title formulation.