The (eta6-arene)Ru(H)2(SiMe3)2 (arene = C6-Me6 (1a), p-cymene (1b), C6H6(1c)) complexes have been prepared and characterized. The complexes activate both aromatic and aliphatic C-H bonds and catalyze HID exchange in alkylsilanes upon thermolysis in benzene-d6. A mechanism based on oxidative-addition/reductive-elimination steps which utilizes a Ru(II)-Ru(IV) cycle is proposed to account for the C-H bond activation and H/D exchange reactions. It is further proposed that H/D exchange into sites adjacent to silicon in alkylsilanes is due to the intermediacy of an eta2-silene complex generated by beta-hydrogen elimination from the silyl group.