The isolation and secondary functionalisation of fac-tris-2,2 '-bipyridine complexes of ruthenium(II)

fac-Ruthenium(II) tris-(5-carboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) has been synthesised as a single geometric isomer for the first time, and proves to be a good 'building-block' to introduce new functionality with retention of the isomeric integrity.