Reaction of [Mo2(O2CR)4] (R = CF 3, 1) with TCNE in toluene affords the new compound [Mo2(O2CCF3)4 (TCNE)·6H5CH3 (2). The structure of 2 is built on [Mo2(O2 CCF3)4] fragments having the usual paddlewheel structure of 1 (Mo-Mo 2.1117(8) Å) and TCNE units. Each polynitrile moiety acts as a bridging ligand between two Mo2 fragments (Mo-N 2.875(4) Å) affording 1-D polymeric chains crossing in the crystal; the toluene molecules occupy the cavities between the chains. 13C NMR, IR and electrochemical data clearly show that formation of 2 does not involve electron density transfer from dimolybdenum fragment to the TCNE unit, which remains in 2 in its neutral state. © 2004 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.