The synthesis of novel allenylideneruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(=C=C=CPh2)L2(eta-C9H7)] [PF6] [L=PPh3; L2=bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) or 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe)] is described. The allenylidene complexes are unreactive towards methanol but other nucleophiles [PMe3, NaOMe, LiC=CR (R = Ph, n-C3H7)] can be added regioselectively to the C(gamma) atom to give alkynyl derivatives. [Ru{C=C-CPh2(PMe3)}(dppm)(eta-C9H7)] [PF6] isomerizes in tetrahydrofuran solution to the thermodynamically stable product [Ru{C(PMe3)=C=CPh2)(dppm)(eta-C9H7)][PF6].