Two stable thiazolylazo anion radical complexes of ruthenium(II), [Ru(L1 •-)(Cl)(CO)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] (1) and [Ru(L2 •-)(Cl)(CO)(PPh 3 ) 2 ](2) (where L1 = 2 0 -Thiazolylazo-2-imidazole and L2 = 4-(2 0 -Thiazolylazo)-1-n-hexadecyloxy-naphthalene), have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The radical nature of the complexes has been confirmed from their room temperature magnetic moments and X-band ESR spectra. The radical complexes display a moderately intense (e * 10 4 M -1 cm -1 ) and relatively broad band in 430-460 nm region. In the microcrystalline state, complexes (1) and (2) display strong ESR signals at g = 1.951 and g = 1.988, respectively. In CH 2 Cl 2 solution, complexes (1) and (2) show a quasireversible one-electron response near -0.64 and -0.59 V, respectively, versus Ag/AgCl