The reaction of the phosphino–carbene MeNC₃H₂NPtBu₂ with RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃ is shown to give facile access to the Ru(0) species (MeNC₃H₂NPtBu₂)Ru(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (1). This species undergoes oxidative addition of H₂ and silanes to give (MeNC₃H₂NPtBu₂)RuH₂(CO)(PPh₃)₂4, (MeNC₃H₂NPtBu₂)Ru H(SiRPh₂)(CO)(PPh₃) (R = Ph 5, H 6) and (MeNC₃H₂NPtBu₂) RuH(PhSi(SCH₂CH₂)₂O)(CO)(PPh₃) 7.