The trans influence in mer‐tri­chloro­nitridobis­(tri­phenyl­arsine)­ruthenium(VI)

The title compound, mer‐[RuCl₃N(C₁₈H₁₅As)₂], is the first structurally characterized example of a nitride complex in which ruthenium is six‐coordinated to monodentate ligands only. The Ru[triple‐bond]N bond length [1.6161 (15) Å] is relatively long, and the trans influence of the nitride ligand is reflected by the difference between the Ru—Cl_trans and Ru—Cl_cis bond lengths [0.1234 (4) Å]. The N—Ru—Cl_trans axis is sited on a twofold axis.