An efficient synthesis of diarylallenylidene pentacarbonyl chromium and tungsten complexes is presented. Irradiation of M(CO)6 in THF affords (CO)sM[THF], Substitution of the THF ligand by diarylpropargylalcoholate and subsequent desoxygenation with COCF gives the title compounds in good yield. (The structure of diphenylallenylidene pentacarbonyl chromium has been determined by X-ray structure analysis