Several new synthetic methods have been developed for preparation of the rectangular tetrameric cluster complexes Mo4X8L4 (X = Cl, Br, I; L = neutral donor ligand). Mo4C18(CH3OH)4 is prepared efficiently from the dimer Mo2Cl4(PPh3)2(CH3OH)2 and subsequently converted in good yield to Mo4C18(C2H5CN)4 by reaction with propionitrile. Reaction of Mo4C18(C2H5CN)4 with triphenylphosphine yields Mo4Cl8(PPh3)4, and with tetrahydrofuran the unstable Mo4C18(THF)4 is afforded. The trialkylphosphine derivatives Mo4C18(PR3)4 (R = C2H5 or C4H9) may be obtained more conveniently in reactions between (a) K4Mo2C18 + PR3 (1:2 mole ratio), (b) Mo2(02CCH3)4 + PR3 + (CH3)3SiCl (1:2:4 mole ratio), (c) Mo2(02CCH3)4 + PR3 + A1C13 (1:2:2 mole ratio), or (d) Mo2C14(PR3)4 + Mo(CO)6 (1:1 mole ratio). The Mo4Br8(P-n-Bu3)4 prepared by analogous methods exhibits properties closely related to the chloride derivative; Mo4I8(P-n-Bu3)4 however appears to consist of weakly coupled quadruply bonded dimers. The various compounds have been characterized by UV-visible, infrared, and Cl 2p photoelectron spectra which reflect the basic rectangular cluster structure known for Mo4Cl8(PEt3)4.