Porphyrins bearing enaminoketones at their periphery have been used as ancillary ligands in ruthenium complexes. Free base, nickel and zinc porphyrins were successfully coordinated to Ru(bpy)(2)Cl(2) under microwave irradiation. The positive contribution of the ruthenium complex was demonstrated by the complexes' wide absorption domains that covered the 500-600 nm region where the parent porphyrins did not absorb. Electrochemical as well as computational data revealed an efficient electronic communication between the porphyrins and the ruthenium cation in the dyads.