bidentate pyrazole–phosphinite ligands [(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl diphenylphosphinite] (L1) and [2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyldiphenylphosphinite] (L2) were synthesised and characterised. The reaction of L1 and L2 with the dimeric complexes [Ru(η6-arene)Cl2]2 (arene = p-cymene, benzene) led to the formation of neutral complexes [Ru(η6-arene)Cl2(L)] (L = L1, L2) where the pyrazole–phosphinite