Three photochromic fulgides, E-1-(3 ,4 ,5 -trimethoxyphenyl)ethylidene(isopropylidene)succinic anhydride (5) and a mixture of E- and Z-1-(2 ,4 ,6 -trimethylphenyl)methylidene(isopropylidene)succinic anhydrides (10) and (11), were synthesised and reacted with chromium hexacarbonyl to give mixtures of the corresponding tricarbonyl-η 6 -fulgide chromium(0) complexes. No evidence for formation of the corresponding diene or enone complexes was obtained. Irradiation of the purified chromium arene complexes gave E/Z isomerisation and decomposition of the complexes without photochromic ring closure.