Density functional theory studies on a series of Fe-2(CO)(6)(PX)(2) derivatives show the tetrahedrane to be the most stable for the alkyl (X = Me, Bu-t), P-H (X = H), and chloro (X = CI) derivatives. However, butterfly diradical and planar rhombus structures are found to be more stable than tetrahedranes for the amino (X = NH2, NMe2, and (NPr2)-Pr-i) and aryloxy (R = 2,6-Bu-t(2)-4-Me-C6H2O) derivatives. For the chloro (X = CI) and methoxy (X = OMe) derivatives energetically accessible bishomotetrahedrane Fe-2(CO)(6)P-2(mu-X)(2) isomers are observed in which the X substituents on the phosphorus atoms interact with the iron atom to form two direct Fe-X bonds at the expense of two of the four Fe-P bonds. In addition, the global minimum for the hydroxy (X = OH) derivative is an unusual FeP-butterfly structure with a central Fe-P bond as well as two external Fe-P bonds, one external P-P bond, and one external Fe=Fe double bond. Comparison of calculated with experimental nu(CO) frequencies shows that low-temperature Nujol matrix photolysis of ((Pr2NP)-Pr-i)(2)COFe2(CO)(6) leads to a planar rhombus rather than a tetrahedrane isomer of Fe-2(CO)(6)((PNPr2)-Pr-i)(2).