A ruthenium(II) diamine complex can catalyze the intramolecular cyclization of amino alcohols H2N(CH2)nOH via two pathways: (i) one yields the cyclic secondary amine by a redox-neutral hydrogen-borrowing route with loss of water; and (ii) the second gives the corresponding cyclic amide by a net oxidation involving loss of H2. The reaction is most efficient in cases where the product has a six-membered ring. The amide and amine pathways are closely related: DFT calculations show that both amine and amide formations start with the oxidation of the amino alcohol, 5-amino-1-pentanol, to the corresponding amino aldehyde, accompanied by reduction of the catalyst. The intramolecular condensation of the amino aldehyde takes place either in the coordination sphere of the metal (path I) or after dissociation from the metal (path II). Path I yields the Ru-bound zwitterionic form of the hemiaminal protonated at nitrogen, which eliminates H2, forming the amide product. In path II, the free hemiaminal dehydrates, giving an imine, which yields the amine product by hydrogenation with the reduced form of the catalyst generated in the initial amino alcohol oxidation. For amide to be formed, the hemiaminal must remain metal-bound in the key intermediate and the elimination of H2 must occur from the same intermediate to provide a vacant site for β-elimination. The elimination of H2 is affected by an intramolecular H-bond in the key intermediate. For amine to be formed, the hemiaminal must be liberated for dehydration to imine and the H2 must be retained on the metal for reduction of the imine intermediate.