The tetraruthenium complex [Cp*RuCl](4) (Cp* = eta(5)-C5Me5) reacts with Na2NCN to afford the anionic bis(cyanamido)-capped triruthenium complex [(Cp*Ru)(3)(mu(3)-NCN)(2)](-) (2(-)), which undergoes single electron oxidation to form [(Cp*Ru)(3)(mu(3)-NCN)(2)] upon workup with 1 equiv. of [Cp2Fe](PF6) (Cp = eta(5)-C5H5). Treatment of 2(-) with 1 equiv. of HCl at room temperature leads to the protonation of one of the Ru-Ru edges to give the hydrido-bridged complex [(Cp*Ru)(3)(mu-H)(mu-NCN)(2)], while the cationic side-on NCNH2 complex [(Cp*Ru)(3)(mu-Cl)(mu(3)-NCN)(mu(3)-NCNH2-1 kappa C,N:2 kappa C:3 kappa N)]Cl (5) is obtained by the reaction of 2- with an excess amount of HCl at -78 degrees C. On the other hand, the reaction of 2(-) with BR3 (R = Et, Ph) results in the ligation of two BR3 molecules to the terminal nitrogen atoms of the cyanamido ligands to yield the bis(borane) adduct (PPN)[(Cp*Ru)(3){(mu(4)-NCN)(BR3)}(2)] (6,PPN = Ph3PNPPPh3). 6b (R = Et) slowly liberates one BEt3 molecule in acetone to give the mono(borane) adduct (PPN) [(Cp*Ru)(3)(mu(3)-NCN){(mu(4)-NCN)(BEt3)}] (7). 2(-) is also shown to react with [AuCl(PPh3)] or PhCOCl to afford the tetranuclear heterometallic complex [(Cp*Ru)(3)(mu(3)-NCN){(mu(4)-NCN)(AuPPh3)}] ( 8) or the benzoylcyanamido complex [(Cp*Ru)(3)(mu(3)-NCN)(mu(3)-NCNCOPh)] in which the Au(PPh3)(+) or benzoyl fragment is bound to the terminal nitrogen atom of a cyanamido ligand. The molecular structures of PPN(+)2(-), 5 center dot C6H6, 7 and 8 center dot C6H6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses.