The influences of solvents (in water-cosolvent mixtures) and salts on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the inclusion of [Ru(NH3)(5)(4,4'-bpy)](2+) in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) have been studied. Solvent effects on the kinetics can be described as a consequence of the competition of the cosolvent for the beta-CD cavity. The salt effects on the kinetics depend on the ion pairing of the anions with the [Ru( NH3)(5)(4,4'-bpy)](2+) complex. On the other hand, the solvent effects on the equilibrium constant depend on the stabilization of the 4,4'-bipyridine ligand in the water-cosolvent mixture relative to water. Finally, salt effects on the equilibrium constant are interpreted as a consequence of ion pairing between the anion of the salt and the inclusion complex.