The synthesis and photophysical properties of several multicomponent binuclear metal complexes are described. In particular, in compound 1 an all-trans-pentenyl spacer moiety has been used to link two tris(2,2’-bipyridyl)-ruthenium(II) complexes. Despite a large metal-metal separation, electronic coupling between the terminal subunits is observed both in a mixed valence complex and in the triplet state of the ruthenium(II) complex. Both cases involve long-range electron delocalization promoted by the polyene spacer. Replacing one of the ruthenium(II) complexes by ferrocene causes appearance of a ferrocene-to-Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) charge-transfer state which markedly perturbs the photophysical properties of the system.