A dinuclear ruthenium complex, which acts as a molecular catalyst for water oxidation, has been synthesized and characterized. The electronic and electrochemical properties were studied by UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The oxidation potentials of the complex are significantly lowered by introducing a negatively charged carboxylate ligand, in comparison with those of the reported complexes that have neutral ligands. The catalytic activity of the complex toward water oxidation using Ce(NH4)(2)(NO3)(6) as a chemical oxidant was investigated by means of an oxygen electrode and mass spectrometry. The turnover number of this catalyst with Ce-IV as the chemical oxidant was found to be ca. 1700. The mass spectroscopic analysis of the isotopomer distribution in oxygen evolved from O-18-labeled water indicates that O atoms in the evolved oxygen originate from water.