Five new Si-N-Si bridged metallocene dichloride complexes of the type [CpSiMe2N(R)SiMe2-Cp]MCl2 (Cp = C5H4, C9H6; R = alkyl, M = Ti, Zr, Hf) were synthesized using a new type of amine elimination reaction. All complexes were characterized by H-1-, C-13-, N-15- and Si-29-NMR spectroscopy. An X-ray structure analysis was performed for complex [C5H4-SiMe2N(Bu-n)SiMe2-C5H4]HfCl2 (4) (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.