The hydrazinediido complexes [Cp*M(N xyl N)-(NNPh 2 )(dmap)] (M = Zr, 3a; M = Hf, 3b; N xyl N = 2-(Nxylylamino)pyrrolinate) have been synthesized, and their reactivity has been investigated. Both complexes were prepared from [Cp*M(N xyl N)Cl 2 ] (1a,b) and [Cp*M(N xyl N)-(NHNPh 2 )Cl] (2a,b), respectively, as precursors. While 3a was obtained by dehydrohalogenation of 2a using LiHMDS in the presence of dmap, reaction of 2b with LiHMDS