A series of ruthenium mono(bipyridine) carbonyl complexes Ru(L)(CO)(2)X-2 (L = 2,2'-bipyridine or methyl substituted 2,2'-bipyridine, X = Cl, H, SCN C(O)OCH3) were studied as potential catalysts in the water gas shift reaction. The effect on catalytic activity of modifying the bipyridine rings and the ligand system around ruthenium central atom was of particular interest. Catalysts were deposited onto silica support by impregnation from organic solvents and the silica supported catalysts were treated with dilute NaOH solution, which has been found to be an effective activation method for ruthenium mono(bipyridines). in addition to NaOH-activated catalysts study was made of the catalytic behavior in WGSR of electrochemically prepared polymer, [Ru(bpy)(CO)(2)](n). Catalytic activity of the complexes was tested in a continuous how reactor in the temperature range 100-160 degrees C. New Complexes [Ru(4,4'-dmbpy)(CO)(2)Cl(C(O)OCH3)] and [Ru(4,4'-dmbpy)(CO)(2)ClH] were synthesized from [Ru(CO)(3)Cl-2](2) and 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-dmbpy) in methyl formate or ethylene glycol.