Reactions of phenylacetylene with [RuH2(CO)L](-) [L is the pincer ligand C6H3-2,6-(CH2PBU2t)(2)], [RuH3(CO)(PPr3i)(2)](-) and [ReH3(NO)(PPr3i)(2)](-) have afforded the new anionic sigma-alkynyl and vinyl complexes trans-[RuH(C=CPh)(CO)L)(-), cis-[RuH2(C=CPh)(CO)(PPr3i)(2)](-), cis-[RuH2(CPh=CH2)-(CO)(PPr3i)(2)](-) and cis-[ReH2(CPh=CH2)(NO)CPPr3i)(2)](-), all, as the [K(18-crown-6)](+) salts. Formation of the acetylides does not involve unsaturated species and takes place via [M-C(Ph)=CH2] vinyl intermediates.