Reaction of the ruthenium phosphine complex [RuCl 2 (PPh 3 ) 3 ] 1 with an unsaturated functionalized diphosphine ligand, namely 1,1-bis(diphenyl-phosphinomethyl)-ethene, H 2 C=C(CH 2 PPh 2 ) 2 , (dppme) gave trans-Cl 2 Ru-(dppme) 2 2. Complex 2 served as a precursor for the synthesis of trans-Cl 2 Ru(dppme)(alkylamine) 2 complexes 3-5 by reaction with RNH 2 . All these complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and by elemental analysis. The solid-state structure of complex 2 was determined by X-ray crystallography.