The reaction of a naphthalene complex [CpRu(η6-C10H8)]PF6 (Cp = η5-C5H5) with 8-diphenylphosphinoisoquinoline and sodium acetate in acetonitrile afforded a P–C chelate 1,2-dihydroisoquinolin-1-ylidene ruthenium complex 2 bearing an NH group at the position β to the metal. The cationic carbene complex 2 underwent reversible deprotonation of the NH group to give the corresponding 1-isoquinolyl complex 3. The crystal structures of the chelation-stabilized acid–base pair (2 and 3) have been compared in detail as potential metal–ligand cooperating catalysts.