The direct synthesis of the first mu(2)-eta(2),eta(2)-allyl-bridged diiridium complex ([2](+)), hearing the uncommon counterion [IrCl2(COD)](-) ([3](-)), is described. Both bridging moieties in [2](+), namely, allyl and acetate, are introduced in a Single reaction step from [{IrCl(COD)}(2)] (1) and allyl acetate. A combination of X-ray crystallography and density functional theory calculations reveals pronounced metal allyl pi-back-bonding.