The transition-metal-catalyzed chelation-assisted alkenylation at the inert C–H bond of aromatics with alkenes is one of the efficient methods to synthesize substituted vinylarenes in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. Palladium, rhodium and ruthenium complexes are frequently used as catalysts for this type of transformation. The present review describes the recent advances in the ruthenium-catalyzed chelation-assisted alkenylation at the C–H bond of aromatics, alkenes and heteroaromatics with alkenes via the deprotonation pathway. Several directing groups including 2-pyridyl, carbonyl, amidine, amide, amine, imidate, sulphonic acid, triazole, cyano, oxazolidinone and hydontoin are widely used in the reaction. The scope, limitation and mechanistic investigation of the alkenylation reactions are discussed elaborately. This feature article includes all the reported ruthenium-catalyzed alkenylation reactions via the deprotonation pathway until the end of March 2017.