A gallium(I) carbenoid derived from redox-active diimine 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dpp-bian) in complexes with molybdenum may serve either as a neutral [(dpp-bian)Ga:] or an anionic [(dpp-bian)Ga:](-) two-electron donor depending on the electronic state of the transition metal.