Low-valent zirconocene species reacted with 1,1,6,6-tetraalkyl-1,2,3,4,5-hexapentaenes to form both 1-zirconacyclopent-3-ynes and n(2)-pi-coordinated complexes according to the alkyl groups (R) and the existence of the neutral ligand (L). Haptotropic interconvertion between these two complexes was observed. It was proposed that double insertion of isocyanide into the Zr-C bond of 1-zirconacyclopent-3-ynes takes place via the isocyanide adduct of the eta(2)-pi-complex as an intermediate.