The neutral complex [Ru(2)(acac)(4)(bptz)] (I) has been prepared by the reaction of Ru(acac)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) with bptz (bptz = 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine) in acetone. The diruthenium(II,II) complex (I) is green and exhibits an intense metal-ligand charge-transfer band at 700 nm. Complex I is diamagnetic and has been characterized by NMR, optical spectroscopy, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal structure data for I are as follows: triclinic, P1, a = 11.709(2) A, b = 13.487(3) A, c = 15.151(3) A, alpha = 65.701(14) degrees, beta = 70.610(14) degrees, gamma = 75.50(2) degrees, V = 2038.8(6) A(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0610, for 4397 reflections with F(o) > 4sigmaF(o). Complex I shows reversible Ru(2)(II,II)-Ru(2)(II,III) and Ru(2)(II,III)-Ru(2)(III,III) couples at 0.17 and 0.97 V, respectively; the 800 mV separation indicates considerable stabilization of the mixed-valence species (K(com) > 10(13)). The diruthenium(II,III) complex, [Ru(2)(acac)(4)(bptz)](PF(6)) (II) is prepared quantitatively by one-electron oxidation of I with cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate in methanol followed by precipitation with NH(4)PF(6). Complex II is blue and shows an intense MLCT band at 575 nm and a weak band at 1220 nm in CHCl(3), which is assigned as the intervalence CT band. The mixed valence complex is paramagnetic, and an isotropic EPR signal at g = 2.17 is observed at 77 and 4 K. The solvent independence and narrowness of the 1200 nm band show that complex II is a Robin and Day class III mixed-valence complex.