The reactions of Ru(bpy) 2 (CO 3 ) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) and Ru(phen) 2 (CO 3 ) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) with the binucleating phenolato diimine function, OH C 6 H 4 C(CH 3 ) N CH 2 C 6 H 4 CH 2 N (CH 3 )C C 6 H 4 OH, H 2 L in ethanol solvent under dinitrogen atmosphere result in ruthenium bipyridine/phenanthroline heterochelates [Ru(bpy) 2 /(phen) 2 L'](ClO 4 ) 1 where L' corresponds to the ketonic imine function - O C 6 H 4 C(CH 3 ) N H incorporating the rare C N H fragment. In the course of the reaction the N C bond of the diimine function in H 2 L has been selectively cleaved. The formation of 1 has been authenticated by single-crystal X-ray structure of the bipyridine derivative (1a). The RuN 5 O coordination sphere is distorted octahedral. The diamagnetic complexes 1 exhibit 1:1 conductivity in acetonitrile solution. The complexes show strong Ru I I ->π*(bpy)/(phen) MLCT transitions in the visible region and intra-ligand transitions in the UV region. The complexes exhibit moderately strong emissions near 700 nm from the lowest energy MLCT bands (Φ=1.7-2.2x10 - 2 ). The complexes (1a and 1b) display reversible ruthenium(III)-ruthenium(II) couple near 0.5 V, irreversible ruthenium(III)->ruthenium(IV) oxidation near 1.7 V and one ligand-based (L') oxidation near 2.0 V versus SCE. The reductions of the bpy and phen ligands have been observed at the negative side of SCE. The electrochemically oxidized ruthenium(III) complexes (1a + and 1b + ) are found to be unstable at 298 K and exhibit rhombic EPR spectra having three distinct g values corresponding to the trivalent ruthenium(III) under distorted octahedral arrangement. The oxidized complexes (1a + and 1b + ) exhibit LMCT transitions near 750 nm.