The novel azoimine ligand α-acetyl-α-phenylazo-4-chlorophenylazomethine (L) was prepared and characterized. Its coordination chemistry to Ru(II) was investigated by the preparation and characterization of the complex trans-[Ru(bpy)LCl 2 ] where bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine. A crystal structure of this complex showed that L is a bidentate ligand and coordinates to Ru(II) by azo-and imine-nitrogen donor atoms. Cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry were performed on this complex and the visible region absorption bands assigned. L is shown to be a strong π-acid ligand.