New heterodonor NPPN tetradentate ligands, 2-PyCH2(Ph)P-(CH2)(n) P(Ph)CH2-2-Py (meso- and rac-L-n; n = 2-4, Py = pyridyl), were prepared and reacted with [Cp*MCl2](2) (M = Ir, Rh; Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) in the presence of NH4BF4 to afford a series of dinuclear complexes [(Cp*MCl)(2)(meso-L-n)](BF4)(2) (M = Ir, n = 2 (2a), 3 (3a), 4 (4a); M = Rh, n = 2 (2c), 3 (3c), 4 (4c)) and [(Cp*MCl)(2)(rac-L-n)](BF4)(2) (M = Ir, n = 2 (2b), 3 (3b), 4 (4b); M = Rh, n =, 2 (2d), 3 (3d), 4 (4d)), which were characterized by IR, H-1 and (31)pH-1} NMR, and ESI mass spectroscopic techniques and X-ray crystallography. The configurations around the two metal centers were controlled by the configuration of the coordinated P atoms so as to avoid repulsive interaction between the phenyl group on P and the chloride ligand, resulting in the formation of stereospecific isomers; a mesa configuration of the metal centers is induced from meso-L-n (abbreviated as meso-P-2/meso-M-2), and in contrast, a rac configuration is induced from rac-L" (rac-P-2/rac-M-2). Furthermore, inversion of metal centers for the Ir-2 complexes occurred in DMSO at higher temperatures (60-100 degrees C), generating equilibrium mixtures of minor diastereomers (meso-P-2/rac-M-2 or rac-P-2/meso-M-2) in low ratios together with the major isomers (meso-P-2/meso-M-2 or rac-P-2/rac-M-2). The equilibrium constants, K = [minor isomer]/[major isomer], varied appreciably depending on the lengths of the methylene chains as well as configurations of the NPPN ligands; the overall propensity for the K values was observed to be L-2 < L-3