Oxidation of the facial-type trichloridoruthenium(iii) complex bearing ethylbis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (ebpma), fac-[RuIIICl3(ebpma)], with (NH4)2[CeIV(NO3)6] in acetonitrile afforded a ruthenium(iii) complex having bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)aminato (bpca), [RuIIICl2(NCCH3)(bpca)]. The bpca moiety showed interactions with cations such as protons.