By treating tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane (tpm) with suitably activated [Ru(cod)(cot)] and [Ru(cod)(nap)] (cod = η4-cycloocta-1,5-diene, cot = η6-cycloocta-1,3,5-triene, nap = η6-naphthalene) the (hydrido)RuII species [Ru(N2,N2',C5''-tpm)(cod)H] with cyclometalated tpm was obtained. This complex reacted with chloroform at room temperature to give\ud\ud
[Ru(N2,N2',C5''-tpm)(cod)Cl] and dichloromethane. The coordination and symmetry of the novel complexes were elucidated by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy