Treatment of the complex [(CO)6Fe2EE′ μ-C(Ph)=C-C(OEt)=M(CO)5], (1: E = S, E′ = Se; M = Cr; 2: E = S, E′ = Se; M = W; 3: E = E′ = Te; M = Cr and 4: E = E′ = Te; M = W), with excess Bu3SnH in hexane at 0°C produces enol ether derivatives: (CO)6Fe2μ-EC(Ph)(H)-C(E′)=C(H)(OEt) (E/Z-5: E = S, E′ = Se and E/Z-6: E = E′ = Te). All the compounds have been characterised by IR and 1H-, 13C- or 77Se-NMR spectroscopy. The structure of [(CO)6Fe2Te2μ-(Ph)C=CC(OEt)W(CO) 5] has been established crystallographically. © 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.