Two new complexes, [M-II(L)(Cl)(H2O)(2)]center dot H2O (where M = Ni or Ru and L = heterocyclic Schiff base. 3-hydroxyquinoxaline-2-carboxalidene-4-aminoantipyrine). have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, FAB-MASS, TG-DTA, AAS, cyclic voltammetry, conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The complexes have a distorted octahedral structure and were found to be effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of benzene. The influence of several reaction parameters Such as reaction time, temperature, hydrogen pressure,concentration of the catalyst and concentration of benzene was tested. A turnover frequency of 5372 h(-1) has been found in the case Of ruthenium complex for the reduction of benzene at 80 C with 3.64 x 10(-6) mol catalyst, 0.34 mol benzene and at a hydrogen pressure of 50 bar. in the case of the nickel complex, a turnover frequency of 1718 h(-1) has been found for the same reaction with 3.95 x 10(-6) mol catalyst Under similar experimental conditions. The nickel complex shows more selectivity for the formation of cyclohexene while the ruthenium complex is more selective for the formation of cyclohexane. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.