To prove the influence of the oxidation state on C≡N-stretching vibrations and bond lengths, a comparison of literature-known alkyl isocyanide complexes [W(CNR)6] and [W(CNR)7] 2+ with our new species [W(CNR)8] 4+ and [W(CNR)8] 5+ seemed straightforward. Unfortunately, only a few of such low-valent compounds exist at all and in some cases spectroscopic data are incomplete.