A series of p-cymene and cyclopentadienyl Ru(II)-aNHC complexes have been synthesized from 2methylimidazolium salts with either an N-bound alkenyl (1, 3) or picolyl tether (6, 7). The C(5)-Me substituted alkenyl-tethered analogues (2, 4) have also been synthesized. Ag-mediated C(2)dealkylation was a prominent side reaction that led to the formation of normally bound NHC Ru(II) complexes, which in selected cases have been isolated (5, 8). A C(4)-over C(2)-selectivity for ruthenium binding has been established by protecting the C(2)-position with an iPr group on the imidazolium precursor, for which unique p-cymene (9) and cyclopentadienyl (10) Ru(II)-aNHC derivatives have been synthesized. All complexes were applied in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones and in secondary alcohol oxidation, with higher catalytic activity for the p-cymene over the cyclopentadienyl systems, as well as the alkenyl-over the picolyl-containing aNHC complexes.