The polymetallic [Ru 3 O(CH 3 COO) 6 (py) 2 (BPE)-Ru(bpy) 2 Cl](PF 6 ) 2 complex (bpy = 2,2 0 -bipyridine, BPE = trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridil)ethylene and py = pyridine) was assembled by the combination of an electroactive [Ru 3 O] moiety with a [Ru(bpy) 2 (BPE)Cl] photoactive centre, and its structure was determined using positive ion electrospray (ESI-MS) and tandem mass (ESI-MS/MS) spectrometry. The [Ru 3 O(CH 3 COO) 6 (py) 2 (BPE)Ru(bpy) 2 Cl] 2? doubly charged ion of m/z 732 was mass-selected and subject to 15 eV collision-induced dissociation, leading to a specific dissociation pattern, diagnostic of the complex structure. The electronic spectra display broad bands at 409, 491 and 692 nm ascribed to the [Ru(bpy) 2 (BPE)] charge-transfer bands and to the [Ru 3 O] internal cluster transitions. The cyclic voltammetry shows five reversible waves at -1.07 V, 0.13 V, 1.17 V, 2.91 V and -1.29 V (vs SHE) assigned to the [Ru 3 O] -1/0/?1/?2/?3 and to the bpy 0/-1 redox processes; also a wave is observed at 0.96 V, assigned to the Ru ?2/?3 pair. Despite the conjugated BPE bridge, the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical results indicate only a weak coupling through the p-system, and preliminary photophysical essays showed the compound decomposes under visible light irradiation.