A series of water soluble complexes of general formula [(Eta sup(6)-arene) Ru ((C sub(5) H sub(4) N) sub(2) CNRi) Cl) PF sub(6) have been prepared by the reaction of [[(Eta sup(6)- arene) RuCl sub(2)) sub(2)) with appropriate 2,2’-dipyridyl-N-alkylimine ligands (dpNRi) in the presence of NH sub(4) PF sub(6) (where; R = Me or Et; arene = p-cymene, C sub(6) Me sub(6), C sub(6) H sub(6)). The 2,2’-dipyridyl-N-alkylimine ligands are prepared by reaction of 2,2’-dipyridyl ketone with the corresponding alkylamine. The complexes are readily obtained as air stable yellow to dark brown solids by simple stirring at room temperature. The complexes are isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts and characterized on the basis of spectroscopic data. The molecular structure of representative complex ((Eta sup(6)-Csub(6) Me sub(6)) Ru ((C sub(5) H sub(4) N) sub(2) C= N-Me) Cl) PF sub(6) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.