The novel (iminophosphoranyl)(thiophosphoranyl)methane ligands Ph 2 P(dS)CH 2 P(dNR)Ph 2 (R ) 2,4,6-C 6 H 2 Me 3 (2a), 4-C 6 F 4 CHO (2b), 4-C 6 F 4 CN (2c), 4-C 5 F 4 N (2d), P(dO)(OEt) 2 (2e), P(dO)(OPh) 2 (2f), P(dS)(OEt) 2 (2g), P(dS)(OPh) 2 (2h)) have been synthesized by oxidation of the phosphine unit in Ph 2 PCH 2 P(dNR)Ph 2 with elemental sulfur. Treatment of 2a-f with Li n Bu generates the corresponding methanide anions which react in situ with [{RuCl(µ-Cl)(η 6 -p-cymene)} 2 ] to afford the mononuclear derivatives 3f)), via tridentate κ 3 (C,N,S) coordination of the anions to ruthenium. In contrast, complexes [Ru(κ 3 (C,S,S)-Ph 2 P(dS)CHP{dNP(dS)(OR) 2 }Ph 2 )(η 6 -p-cymene)][Cl] (R ) Et (4g), Ph (4h)) are selectively formed in the reactions of [{RuCl(µ-Cl)(η 6 -p-cymene)} 2 ] with the methanide anions derived from 2g-h. Deprotonation of 3a with NaH generates the carbenic derivative [Ru{κ 2 (C,N)-Ph 2 P(dS)CP(dN-2,4,6-C 6 H 2 Me 3 )Ph 2 }(η 6 -p-cymene)] ( 5), which readily reacts with an excess of 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide to afford the octahedral complex [Ru{κ 2 (C,N)-Ph 2 P(S)C(CdN-2,6-C 6 H 3 Me 2 )P(N-2,4,6-C 6 H 2 Me 3 )Ph 2 }(CN-2,6-C 6 H 3 Me 2 ) 4 ] (7), via release of the arene ring and insertion of one isocyanide molecule into the RudC bond of 5. The intermediate ketenimine complex [Ru{κ 3 (C,C,N)-Ph 2 P(dS)C(CdN-2,6-C 6 H 3 Me 2 )P(dN-2,4,6-C 6 H 2 Me 3 )Ph 2 }(η 6 -p-cymene)] ( 6) could be isolated working under stoichiometric conditions. The structure of compounds 2f, 2h, 3f, 4g, and 7 has been determined by X-ray crystallography.