The first structurally, spectroscopically, and electronically characterized metal-spiroligomer complexes are reported. The binuclear [M2L2](4+) ions (M = Mn, Zn) are macrocyclic "squares" and are characterized by X-ray diffraction, H-1 and C-13 NMR, electronic absorption, emission, and mass spectroscopies. The manganese complex contains two spin-independent Mn-II ions and is additionally characterized using EPR and CD spectroscopies and CV.