[RuCl2(dmso)(4)] (dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide) was treated with dhptaH(5) (1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropanetetraacetic acid) and carboxylate ligands in the presence of NaOH or KOH and gave dinuclear ruthenium(III) complexes of dhpta with two bridging carboxylates, M[Ru(dhpta)(mu-O(2)CR)(2)] (1, R = C6H5, M = Na; 1’, R = C6H5, M = K; 2, R = p-OHC6H4, M = Na; 3, R = p-NH2C6H4, M = Na; 4, R = CH3, M = Na; 4’, R = CH3, M = K), which were characterized by elemental analysis, mass, electronic absorption, and H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray absorption and crystallographic analyses (4, orthorhombic, space group Pca2(1) with a = 21.359(4) Angstrom, b = 7.484(2) Angstrom, c = 12.930(2) Angstrom, Z = 4, R = 0.065, and R(w) = 0.044 for 1116 independent reflections with I > 3 sigma(I); 4’. 1.5H(2)O : monoclinic, P2(1), a = 7.689(2) Angstrom, b = 17.213(2) Angstrom, c = 18.103(2) Angstrom, beta = 94.50(1)degrees, Z = 4; R = 0.041, and R(w) = 0.047 for 4705 independent reflections with I > 3 sigma(I)). : monoclinic, P2(1), a = 7.689(2) Angstrom, b = 17.213(2) Angstrom, c = 18.103(2) Angstrom, beta = 94.50(1)degrees, Z = 4; R = 0.041, and R(w) = 0.047 for 4705 independent reflections with I > 3 sigma(I)). : monoclinic, P2(1), a = 7.689(2) Angstrom, b = 17.213(2) Angstrom, c = 18.103(2) Angstrom, beta = 94.50(1)degrees, Z = 4; R = 0.041, and R(w) = 0.047 for 4705 independent reflections with I > 3 sigma(I)).