A DFT study using a "discrete-continuum" modeling of the reaction medium, employed to unravel therole of water in the activation of dihydrogen by [CpRu(PTA)
2Cl] (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane), has revealed that the solvent takes an active part in lowering the energy barriers of the overallheterolytic splitting of the H-H bond. PTA itself promotes the heterolytic activation of the Ru(
2-H
2)bond through one of its nitrogen atoms via a solvent-mediated intramolecular proton transfer.