Thermolysis of the pentacarbonyl(vinylidene)chromium complexes [(CO) 5 CrÄ/CÄ/C(R 1)R 2 ] (1a Á/d) (C(R 1)R 2 0/CMe 2 (a), C(CH 2) 5 (b), C(Et)Me (c), C(t Bu)Me (d)), affords binuclear, vinylidene-bridged nonacarbonyldichromium complexes, [(CO) 5 Cr(m-h 1 ,h 2-CÄ/C(R 1)R 2)Cr(CO) 4 ] (2a Á/d). The solid-state structures of 2a and 2d have been established by X-ray structural analyses. The structural data prove the m-h 1 ,h 2-C Ä/C(R 1)R 2 bonding mode. To account for the NMR spectroscopic features a dynamic process is proposed involving rapid coordination site exchange of the CÄ/C bond between Cr(1) and Cr(2) (windshield wiper mechanism) and of one CO ligand.