The present invention is directed to a method for the preparation of ruthenium indenylidene carbene catalysts of the type (L)(L′)X2Ru(II)(aryl-indenylidene). The method comprises the steps of reacting the precursor compound Ru(PPh3)nX2 (n=3-4) with a propargyl alcohol derivative in an cyclic diether solvent such as 1,4-dioxane at temperatures in the range of 80 to 130° C. and reaction times of 1 to 60 minutes. Optionally, additional neutral electron donor ligands such as PCy3, phobane ligands or NHC ligands are added to the reaction mixture for ligand exchange. The method includes a precipitation step for purification, after which the product is isolated. The ruthenium-indenylidene carbene catalysts are obtained in high purity and are used as catalysts for metathesis reactions (RCM, ROMP and CM) and as precursors for the synthesis of modified ruthenium carbene catalysts.