Cyclometalated [Os(C-N)x(N-N)(3-x)]m+ mimetics of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)osmium(II): covering a 2 V potential range by known (x = 0, 1) and new (x = 2, 3) species (C-N = o-2-phenylpyridinato).

Electrochemical studies of [Os(C-N)(x)(N-N)(3-x)](m+) (1) consisting of known Os(II) species with x = 0 (a) and 1 (b) and crystallographically characterized new Os(III) bis- and tris-metalacycles with x = 2 (c) and 3 (d) (N-N = 2,2'-bipyridine, (-)C-N = 2-phenylpyridinato) revealed a Nernstian behavior in MeCN. A stepwise replacement of neutral N-N ligands by three anionic C-N donors covers a 2 V potential range from -1 to +1 V vs. Ag/AgCl for the Os(III)/Os(II) feature.