Some novel bis(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) complexes based on the ligands 1,4-dihydroxy-2,5-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)-benzene (H2Lp) and 1,4-dihydroxy-2,3-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)benzene (H2Lo) have been prepared and characterized, The spectroscopic properties of the analogous H,LP complex containing deuteriated 2,2'-bipyridyl were also studied. The compounds have been oxidized and the electronic properties associated with both oxidation states examined in detail using resonance-Raman and UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy. In the parent compounds the first redox process is hydroquinone based and the lowest-energy absorption is assigned to a hydroquinone to 2,2'-bipyridyl interligand transition. The products obtained upon oxidation are best described as ruthenium(II)-quinone complexes and their lowest-energy transition is assigned to a Ru-II to quinone charge transfer.