Hydrido stannyl compounds containing the η 2-H–SnPh 3 ligand and bis-stannyl compounds containing two SnPh 3 ligands have been obtained from the photolysis of ( η 6-arene)Cr(CO) 3 and HSnPh 3. New complexes with different arenes (mesitylene, trifluorotoluene and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene) have been obtained and characterized by X-ray diffraction: ( η 6-C 6H 4(OCH 3) 2)Cr(CO) 2(HSnPh 3) ( 3a), ( η 6-C 6H 4(OCH 3) 2)Cr(CO) 2(SnPh 3) 2 ( 3b). Structural data for 3a: monoclinic; space group P2 1/ c (No. 14); a=17.445(3), b=9.820(3) and c=16.302(5) Å; Z=4; V=2539.2(12) Å 3; 3b: monoclinic; space group P2 1/ n (No. 14); a=13.904(3), b=20.567(5) and c=13.911(3) Å; Z=4; V=3994(2) Å 3. 1H-NMR as well as X-ray provided evidence for the existence of three-center two-electron bonds in the hydrido stannyl complexes. The effects of different ligands on bonding and spectroscopic parameters were studied. Arene exchange reactions of the bis-stannyl complexes, as well as reactions of some of these compounds with P(C 2H 5) 3 and CO, were also investigated.