A series of (carbene) ruthenium-arene complexes 1-3 and RuCl2 [C (NMe) C6H4NMe] 3 (6) have been prepared by reaction of [(arene) RuCl2] 2 and [RuCl2 (cod)] n, respectively, with enetetraamines (RN) C6H4 (RN) CC (NR) C6H4 (NR). The complexes 1-3 are shown to be