We investigated the potential of ruthenium complexes to mediate the hydroamination reaction, using piperidine and ethylene as model substrates. Our main approach was to activate the olefin towards nucleophilic attack by the amine. This might be achieved by co-ordination to a metal centre. We succeeded in identifying ruthenium complexes that mediate this reaction stoichiometrically. We showed that amine co-ordination to ruthenium is strong and that the co-ordinated amine does not take part in the desired reaction. Thus, we tentatively conclude that catalytic results were not achieved due to amine blockage of the essential metal sires. Reaction of higher olefins did not result in any aminated products at all. Dehydroalkylation of piperidine to 2-ethyl-1,2-dehydropiperidine 17 was observed as a side reaction with selected ruthenium compounds.