[5] Dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) reacts with hydrogen in the presence of base to give the purple-colored monohydride HRuCl(PPh3)3.

RuCl2(PPh3)3 catalyzes the decomposition of formic acid into carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas in the presence of an amine.

[7] Since carbon dioxide can be trapped and hydrogenated on an industrial scale, formic acid represents a potential storage and transportation medium.

[8] Dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) serves as a precatalyst for the hydrogenation of alkenes, nitro compounds, ketones, carboxylic acids, and imines.

[8] RuCl2(PPh3)3 efficiently catalyzes carbon-carbon bond formation from cross couplings of alcohols through C-H activation of sp3 carbon atoms in the presence of a Lewis acid.