trans[(H2NCH2CH2C equivalent to N)(dppe)(2)Ru(dppe)(6)Ru(dppe)(2)(N equivalent to CCH2CH2NH2)][PF6](2), 2[PF6](2), a derivative of trans-[Cl(dppe)(2)Ru(C equivalent to C)(6)Ru(dppe)(2)Cl] functionalized for binding to a silicon substrate, has been prepared and characterized spectroscopically, electrochemically, and with a solid state, single-crystal structure determination. Covalent binding via reaction of one amine group to a boron-doped, smooth SiCl substrate is verified by XPS measurements and surface electrochemistry. Vertical orientation is demonstrated by film thickness measurements. Synthesis of the 2[PF6](3) mixed-valence complex on the surface is established by electrochemical techniques. Measurement of the ac capacitance of the film at 1 MHz as a function of voltage across the film with a pulse-counter pulse technique demonstrates controlled electric field generation of the two stable mixed-valence forms differing in the spatial location of one electron, that is, switching. As compared to [trans-Ru(dppm)(2)(C equivalent to CFc)(NCCH2CH2NH2)][PF6][Cl], 1[PF6][Cl], the magnitude of the capacitance signal per complex observed on switching is shown to increase with increasing distance between the metal centers. Additional experiments on 1 [X][Cl] show that the potential for switching 1[X][Cl] increases in the order [X](-) = [SO3CF3](-) < [PF6](-) < [Cl](-). A simple electrostatic model suggests that the smaller is the counterion, the greater is the perturbation of the metal sites and the larger is the barrier for switching.