The pressure dependence of stretching vibrations involving metal-oxo multiple bonds is reported and discussed. Metal-ligand vibrational frequencies involving double and triple bonds increase with pressure according to the nature of the metal center and ancillary ligands. Pressure-dependent luminescence spectra, at room temperature, of a trans-dioxo rhenium(V) complex exhibit resolved vibronic structure with a progression in a high frequency metal-oxo stretching mode that shows a change of the intensity distribution with pressure. Raman and luminescence spectra are used to rationalize the unusual decrease of the metal-oxo stretching frequency observed for two complexes at pressures over 30 kbar. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.