The reaction of dibenzoylmethane (HDBM) with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] in benzene in the presence of a supporting base (Et3N) under reflux gives two different complexes, the side product as a green-yellow Ru(III) compound of composition [RuIIICl2(DBM)(PPh3)2] (2) and the main product as a red Ru(II) complex of composition [RuII(DBM)2(PPh3)2] (3). The products were studied by spectroscopic methods, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The molecular structure of 2 shows a distorted octahedral environment around the Ru atom with two phosphine ligands in trans positions. The octahedral complex 3 shows a cis arrangement of two phosphine ligands.