Three bis(1,2,3-triazolylidene) silver(i) complexes were reacted with [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 and the ruthenium complexes [RCH2N2(NMe)C2Ph]RuCl2(p-cymene) (R = C6H2Me34a1, C6H2iPr34b1, Ph 4c1) were isolated as major products with the minor C(sp2)–H activated products [RCH2N2(NMe)C2C6H4]RuCl(p-cymene) (R = C6H2Me34a2, C6H2iPr34b2, Ph 4c2) and [(C6H4)CH2N2(NMe)C2Ph]RuCl(p-cymene) (4c3).