The neutral chloror complexes [(eta(5)-C5Me5)M(eta(2)-NC9H6O)Cl] as well as the cationic aqua complexes [(eta 5-C5Me5)M(eta(2) -NC9H6O)(H2O)](+) (M = Rh, Ir) have been synthesized from the reaction of the dinuclear precursors [eta(5)-C5Me5)MCl2](2) and 8-hydroxyquinoline. The single crystal X-ray structure analysis of [(eta(5)-C5Me5)Ir(eta(2)-NC9H6O)Cl] reveals for these complexes a piano-stool arrangement with the aromatic ligand, the chelating oxinato ligand and the terminal chloro or aqua ligand surrounding the metal center in a pseudo-tetrahedral fashion. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.