Key indicators: single-crystal X-ray study; T = 200 K; mean (C-C) = 0.006 Å; R factor = 0.041; wR factor = 0.093; data-to-parameter ratio = 13.6.Facile ligand substitution is observed when the rutheniumazide complex, [RuN 3 (Tp)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] [Tp,HB(pz) 3 , pz = pyrazolyl, PPh 3 = triphenylphosphine] is treated with benzonitrile, yielding the title compound, [Ru(C 9 H 10 BN 6 )(N 3 )(C 7 H 5 N)-(C 18 H 15 P)]. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent molecules. In each one, the Ru II atom is six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by five N atoms from an htpb ligand, an azide ligand and a benzonitrile ligand and one P atom from a triphenylphosphine (tpp) ligand. The azide group is almost linear and is coordinated to Ru with an average Ru-N-N angle of 124.9 (3) . Related literature