The first gallafluorene (1) has been prepared by two routes : (i) the reaction of Ar*GaC1(2) (Ar* = 2,4,6-t-Bu(3)C(6)H(2)) With 2,2’-dilithiobiphenyl (2), and (ii) the reaction of 2 with GaC1(3) followed by treatment with Ar*Li. The analogous indafluorene (4) has been prepared via the reaction of Ar*InBr2 with 2 . 2TMEDA. The structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray crystallography.