Heating of 1,1,3-(PPh3)3-1-H-1,2,4-RuC2B8H9 with 2-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene in arene solvents (benzene, toluene, or mesitylene) unexpectedly afforded the ruthenium arene complexes 1-(6-arene)-3-(C7H9CH2O)-isonido-1,2,4-RuC2B8H9 containing the nortricyclene fragment in the carborane ligand.