C-H bond activation of terminal alkynes by [Tp'Rh(CNneopentyl)] (Tp' = hydridotris - (3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) resulted in the formation of terminal C-H bond activation products Tp'Rh(CNneopentyl)(C CR)H (R = t-Bu, SiMe3, hexyl, CF3, p-MeOC6H4, Ph, and p-CF3C6H4). A combination of kinetic selectivity determined in competition reactions and activation energy for reductive elimination has allowed for the calculation of relative Rh-C-alkynyl bond strengths. The bond strengths of Rh-C-alkynyl products are noticeably higher than those of Rh-C-aryl and RE-C-alkyl analogues. The relationship between M-C and C-H bond strengths showed a linear correlation (slope RM-C/H-C = 1.32), and follows energy correlations previously established for unsubstituted sp(2) and sp(3) C-H bonds in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.