The first neutral monosubstituted dipyridophenazine complex of ruthenium(II), Ru(acac)(2)dppz, has been synthesized, and its optical and electrochemical properties have been studied. The energy of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transition of the complex in solution is linearly dependent on the solvent's polarity. The complex is insoluble in water and nonemissive at both room temperature and at 77 K.