A series of ruthenium complexes (RuCl3 x 3H(2)O, [C5H5Ru(CH3CN)(3)](+)[PF6](-), [RuCl2(PPh3)(3)], [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)(3)], [RuHCl(CO)(PCy3)(2)]) immobilized in [bmim][Tf2N] were tested in homocoupling of vinylsilanes (H2C=CHSi(OEt)(3), H2C=CHSi((OPr)-Pr-i)(3), H2C=CHSi(OSiMe3)(3), H2C=CHSiMe(OSiMe3)(2), and H2C=CHSiPh(OSiMe3)(2)) performed in a biphasic system. The highest catalytic activity and selectivity of homocoupling product was observed for [RuHCl(CO)(PCy3)(2)]. The complex [RuHCl(CO)(PCy3)(2)] immobilized in a variety ionic liquids ([bmim][PF6], [bmim][BF4], [bmim][Tf2N], [bmim][TfO], [bmim][HSO4], [bmim][Cl], [trimim][MeSO4], [NBu3Me][MeSO4], [PBu4][Cl], [bpy][PF6], [bpy][BF4], [bpy][Cl]) exhibits high catalytic activity in homocoupling of H2C=CHSiMe2Ph, H2C=CHSi(OEt)(3) and H2C=CHSiMe(OSiMe3)(2) and enables high-yield stereoselective synthesis of the corresponding E-1,2-bis(silyl)ethenes. The immobilized complex can be easily recycled up to 12 times in the homocoupling of H2C=CHSiMe2Ph and up to 10 times in the homocoupling of H2C=CHSiMe(OSiMe3)(2) without a significant drop in activity and selectivity. Results of a split test indicate that the source of catalytic activity is the catalyst immobilized in ionic liquid phase. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.