A variety of [Ru(CO)2L(q4-enone)] complexes (L = phosphines, phosphites, and arsines, enone = (E)-4-phenylbut-3-en-2-one) have been synthesized. 'H-, I3C-, and 31P-NMR spectra are reported and the X-ray structures of two Ru complexes with L = Ph3P (7), Et3P (10) and one Fe complex with L = Ph3P (14) are presented.All three compounds crystallize in the same monoclinic space group P2,/n with a = 10.575 (2) The structures of the Ru complexes are compared with the Fe analogues. In the case of M = Ru and L = (EtO),P, (MeO),P, and (i-PrO),P (9, 11, and 13, respectively) stereoisomers could be detected by 31P-NMR at room temperature, which arise from rotation at the coordinated metal centre.