The bis-bidentate bridging function of gbha
2- with N,O
-/N,O
- coordination was observed for the first time in thecomplex (
-gbha)[Ru
III(acac)
2]
2 (
1). Density functional theory calculations of
1 yield a triplet ground state with alarge (
E > 6000 cm
-1) singlet-triplet gap. Intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling was observed (
J -5.3cm
-1) for the solid. Complex
1 undergoes two one-electron reduction and two one-electron oxidation steps; thefive redox forms {(
-gbha)[Ru(acac)
2]
2}
n (
n = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2) were characterized by UV-vis-NIRspectroelectrochemistry (NIR = near infrared). The paramagnetic intermediates were also investigated by electronparamagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The monoanion with a comproportionation constant
Kc of 2.7 × 10
8does not exhibit an NIR band for a Ru
III/Ru
II mixed-valent situation; it is best described as a 1,4-diazabutadieneradical anion containing ligand gbha
3-, which
binds two ruthenium(III) centers. A Ru
III-type EPR spectrum with
g1= 2.27,
g2 = 2.21, and
g3 = 1.73 is observed as a result of antiferromagnetic coupling between one Ru
III and theligand radical. The EPR-active monocation (
Kc = 1.7 × 10
6) exhibits a broad (
1/2 = 2600 cm
-1) intervalencecharge-transfer band at 1800 nm, indicating a valence-averaged (Ru
3.5)
2 formulation (class III) with a tendencytoward class II (borderline situation).