The 1,10-phenanthroline radical anion has been generated by adding alkali metals to the free ligand in THF. Its UV-vis and resonance Raman spectra resemble those of the 2,2’-bipyridine radical anion. However, the phen(.-) spectra correspond to neither the transient absorption nor the time-resolved resonance Raman spectra of the MLCT state of Ru(phen)(3)(2+). The promoted electron is nor localized on one of the ligands in the MLCT state of Ru(phen)(3)(2+), as it is in Ru(bpy)(3)(2+).