Synthesis of diruthenium tetrahydrido complexes 1 with substituted cyclopentadienyls from readily available ruthenium eta(3)-allyl complexes 3 has been attained by LiEt3BH-mediated reaction followed by conventional protonolysis. Complexes id and le having 1,2,4-tri- and 1,3-di-tert-butylated cyclopentadienyls obtained by this protocol have sufficient thermal stability in addition to the significant lability of the Ru-H bonds.