Five mixed ligand complexes of trivalent ruthenium with general formula [Ru(L)(bpy)Cl 2 ], where L=p-substituted N-phenyl derivatives of 2-carbamoylpyridine and bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, have been synthesised and characterised. X-ray crystal structural characterisation of a representative complex, i.e. where L=2-(N-(4-nitrophenyl)carbamoyl)pyridine, shows that the amide-containing ligand coordinates to the ruthenium(III) centre via the pyridyl nitrogen and the amidato nitrogen, forming a five-membered chelate ring. The complexes are paramagnetic (low spin d 5 , S=1/2) and show a single signal in their EPR spectra in 1:1 dichloromethane-toluene solution at 77 K. In dichloromethane solution, these complexes show intense ligand to metal charge transfer transitions in the visible region. All the complexes display two cyclic voltammetric responses, a ruthenium(III)-ruthenium(IV) oxidation in the range from +0.63 to +0.93 V and a ruthenium(III)-ruthenium(II) reduction in the range from -0.63 to -0.73 V(vs ferrocene-ferrocenium couple). The potentials of both couples for all the complexes are found to be sensitive to the nature of the substituents present on the amide ligands, L.