The combination of variable temperature (190-297 K) IR and NMR spectroscopy studies with quantum-chemical calculations at the DFT/B3PW91 and AIM level had the aim to determine the mechanism of proton transfer to CpRuH(dppe) (1, dppe = Ph(2)P(CH(2))(2)PPh(2)) and the structures of intermediates. Dihydrogen bond (DHB) formation was established in the case of interaction with weak proton donors like CF(3)CH(2)OH. Low-temperature protonation (at about 200 K) by stronger proton donors leads via DHB complex to the cationic nonclassical complex [CpRu(η(2)-H(2))(dppe)](+) (2). Thermodynamic parameters of DHB formation (for CF(3)CH(2)OH: ΔH°(HB) = -4.9 ± 0.2 kcal·mol(-1), ΔS°(HB) = -17.8 ± 0.7 cal·mol(-1)·K(-1)) and proton transfer (for (CF(3))(2)CHOH: ΔH°(PT) = -5.2 ± 0.3 kcal·mol(-1), ΔS°(PT) = -23 ± 1 cal·mol(-1)·K(-1)) were determined. Above 240 K 2 transforms into trans-[CpRu(H)(2)(dppe)](+) (3) yielding a mixture of 2 and 3 in 1:2 ratio. Kinetic analysis and activation parameters for the "[Ru(η(2)-H(2))](+) → trans-[Ru(H)(2)](+)" transformation indicate reversibility of this process in contrast to irreversible intramolecular isomerization of the Cp* analogue. Calculations show that the driving force of this process is greater stability (by 1.5 kcal·mol(-1) in ΔE scale) of the dihydride cation in comparison with the dihydrogen complex. The calculations of the potential energy profile indicate the low barrier for deprotonation of 2 suggesting that the formation of trans-[CpRu(H)(2)(dppe)](+) proceeds via deprotonation of [Ru(η(2)-H(2))](+) to DHB complex, formation of hydrogen bond with Ru atom and subsequent proton transfer to the metal site.