Stepwise syntheses of mono- and di-nuclear ruthenium tpphz complexes [(bpy)2Ru(tpphz)]2–and [(bpy)2Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)2]4+{tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a: 2′,3′-c: 3″,2″-h: 2″,3‴-j]phenazine}

The complex [(bpy)2Ru(tpphz)]2+(tpphz = tetrapyridophenazine), is obtained by reaction of [(bpy)2Ru(phendione)]2+with 5,6-diamino-1,10-phenanthroline; upon reaction with [(bpy)2Ru(Me2CO)2]2+, the fully conjugated dimer [(bpy)2Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)2]4+ is obtained.