Addition of 1,2-dibromoacenaphthylene to Ni(COD) 2 /2L gives the oxidative-addition products trans-NiL 2 (Br)(2-bromoacenaphthylen-1-yl) (L ) PEt 3 , PMe 3 ). The intermediate π-complex Ni(PMe 3 ) 2 (η 2 -1,2-dibromoacenaphthylene) is isolated at short reaction times for L ) PMe 3 . An analogous complex, Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 (η 2 -1,2-dibromoacenaphthylene), is formed in the reaction of Pt(PEt 3 ) 4 with 1,2-dibromoacenaphthylene and must be heated to induce oxidative-addition to cis-Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(2-bromoacenaphthylen-1-yl). Isomerization to the trans isomer is achieved by further heating. Reduction of trans-Ni(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(2-bromoacenaphthylen-1-yl) with Na/Hg gives two different products depending on the workup. One procedure gives the Hg-bridged complex trans,trans-Ni(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(acenaphthylen-1,2-diyl)Hg(acenaphthylen-1,2-diyl)Ni(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br), while another procedure gives an unidentified complex that is also formed when the reduction is done with KC 8 . Reduction of trans-Ni(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(2bromoacenaphthylen-1-yl) with Na/Hg in the presence of alkynes yields fluoranthenes, suggesting the formation of an acenaphthylyne complex, which couples with the alkynes. A small amount of trans,trans-Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(acenaphthylen-1,2-diyl)Hg(acenaphthylen-1,2-diyl)-Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br) is obtained from the reduction of cis-Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(2-bromoacenaphthylen-1yl) with Na/Hg with trans-Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(2-bromoacenaphthylen-1-yl) as the major product. Reduction of trans-Pt(PEt 3 ) 2 (Br)(2-bromoacenaphthylen-1-yl) with KC 8 results in debromination of the acenaphthylenyl ring.