Synthesis, physical properties and the coordination with two [Ru(bpy)2]2+ complex frag ments are described for 3,6-bis(2'-pyrimidyl)-l,2,4,5-tetrazine (bmtz), the first compact ligand which offers four equivalent a-diimine chelate sites. Spectroelectrochemistry of intensely blue {(a-bmtz)[Ru(bpy)2]2}"+, n = 4, reveals a very facile reduction (n -3) at -0 .4 0 V vs. FeCp2+/o and a metal oxidation (n = 5) at +1.18 V to a diruthenium (II/III) mixed-valent form which exhibits an intervalence transfer absorption at 1490 nm. The corresponding complex {(M-H2bm tz)[Ru(bpy)2]2}4+ with the 1,4-dihydro form H 2bmtz of the tetrafunctional ligand is oxidized in two steps at 0.58 and 1.07 V vs. FeCp2+/°.