Azide complexes [M(RN 3 )(CO) 3 P 2 ]BPh 4 1-3 [M = Mn, Re; R = C 6 H 5 CH 2 , 4-CH 3 C 6 H 4 CH 2 , C 6 H 5 , 4-CH 3 C 6 H 4 , C 5 H 9 ; P = PPh(OEt) 2 , PPh 2 (OEt)] were prepared by allowing tricarbonyl MH(CO) 3 P 2 hydride complexes to react first with Brønsted acid (HBF 4 , CF 3 SO 3 H) and then with organic azide in the dark. In sunlight the reaction yielded tetraazabutadiene [M(g 2 -1,4-R 2 N 4 )(CO) 2 P 2 ]BPh 4 4-6 complexes or, with benzyl azide, imine [M{g 1 -NH=C(H)Ar}(CO) 3 P 2 ]BPh 4 7 (Ar = C 6 H 5 , 4-CH 3 C 6 H 4 ) derivatives. Tetraazabutadiene [M(g 2 -1,4-R 2 N 4 )(CO) 2 P 2 ]BPh 4 complexes were also prepared by reacting dicarbonyl MH(CO) 2 P 3 species first with Brønsted acid and then with an excess of organic azide. Complexes were characterised spectroscopically (IR, 1 H, 31 P, 13 C, 15 N NMR data) and by the X-ray crystal structure determination of complex [Re{g 2 -1,4-(C 6 H 5 CH 2 ) 2 N 4 }(CO) 2 {PPh(OEt) 2 } 2 ]BPh 4 (5a). Strong evidence for coordination of the organic azide was obtained from the 15 N NMR spectra of labelled [M(C 6 H 5 CH 2 15 NN 15 N)(CO) 3 P 2 ]BPh 4 derivatives.