The reaction of [{Ru(η 6 -C 6 H 6 )Cl(μ-Cl)} 2 ] with Py 3 COH in ethanol results in the formation of the cation [Ru(η 6 -C 6 H 6 )(N,N',O,-(C 5 H 4 N) 3 CO)] + which is isolated as its hexafluorphosphate salt 1. The cation acts as a ligand towards other transition metal ions. With Ag + the hetero-trinuclear complex [{Ru(η 6 -C 6 H 6 )((C 5 H 4 N) 3 CO)} 2 Ag][PF 6 ] 3 2 is formed, while reaction with [Pd(PhCN) 2 Cl 2 ] gives the bimetallic [Ru(η 6 -C 6 H 6 )((C 5 H 4 N) 3 CO)PdCl 2 ][PF 6 ] 3. Both compounds were fully characterised by spectroscopic methods and the trinuclear complex was additionally characterised by X-ray diffraction.