The synthesis and characterization of novel cyclometalated ruthenium(II) complexes [RuCl(PCP OMe )-(PPh 3 )] and [RuCl(PCP CF3 )(PPh 3 )] containing monoanionic, tridentate coordinating PCP-pincer ligands [C 6 H 3 {CH 2 P(p-MeOC 6 H 4 ) 2 } 2 -2,6] -(PCP OMe ) and [C 6 H 3 {CH 2 P(p-CF 3 C 6 H 4 ) 2 } 2 -2,6] -(PCP CF3 ) are reported. These compounds have been tested as catalyst precursors in the hydrogen transfer reaction of cyclohexanone to cyclohexanol in 2-propanol using NaOH as a base. The initial rate of the hydrogen transfer reaction appeared to depend on the electronic character of the Ar 2 P-groups of the PCP-pincer ligand. Among the catalyst precursors studied, the complex [RuCl(PCP CF3 )(PPh 3 )] was found to exhibit the highest activity and the initial TOF exceeded that observed for the Ph 2 P analogue [RuCl(PCP Ph )-(PPh 3 )]. Most importantly, catalysis performed with [RuCl(PCP CF3 )(PPh 3 )] does not require pretreatment of the precursor in the absence of substrate. Conversely, a different catalytic profile and a low activity were observed when either the electron-poor [RuCl{C 6 H 3 (CH 2 P(C 6 F 5 ) 2 ) 2 -2,6}(PPh 3 )] ([RuCl(PCP F20 )-(PPh 3 )]) complex or its triflate analogue was used as catalyst precursors. NMR studies and ESI-MS measurements provided information concerning the catalytically active species formed during the pretreatment of the precursor complexes. The results indicate that during the pretreatment period a monoanionic, monohydride ruthenium(II) species, Na[Ru(H)(PCP iPr )(OiPr)(PPh 3 )], is selectively formed. The latter hydride complex was also obtained via an independent synthetic route. On the basis of both the present results and those previously reported in literature, a mechanism is proposed.