The electrochemical behaviour of triphenylstibine-containing Fischer carbene complexes of Mo(0) of the type [(SbPh3)(CO)(4)MoC(OEt)(Ar)] with Ar = 2-thienyl (1), 2-furyl (2), 2-(N-methyl) pyrrolyl (3) or 2,2'-bithienyl (4) is reported. Results are compared to the related complexes [(L,L')(CO)(3)MoC(OEt)(Ar)] where L,L' = CO,CO; PPh3,CO; AsPh3,CO; or dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino) ethane). Linear trends and relationships obtained between HOMO/LUMO energies, oxidation/reduction potentials, ionization energies/electron affinities and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic binding energies of the Mo 3d(5/2) photoelectron lines, show that the electronic influences of the heteroaryl carbene substituent and pnictogen ligands in Mo(0) Fischer ethoxycarbene complexes are transmitted well through the bonds to the Mo metal centre. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.