Abstract A series of substituted pyrazino [2, 3-f][1, 10]-phenanthroline (Rppl) ligands (with R= Me, COOH, COOMe) were synthetized (see 1–4 in Scheme 1). The ligands can be visualized as formed by a bipyridine and a quinoxaline fragment (see A and B). Homoleptic [Ru (R 1 ppl) 3](PF 6) 2 and heteropleptic [Ru (R 1 ppl){(R 2) 2 bpy} 2](PF 6) 2 (R 1= H, Me, COOMe and R 2= H, Me) metal complexes 5–7 and 8–13, respectively, based on these ...