A compound, having general formula: wherein: M is Ru or Os; n is 0, 1 or 2; X 1 and X 2 are independently anionic ligands; L is any neutral 2-electron donor ligand; m is 1 or 2; R 6 and R 7 are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 2 -C 20 alkenyl, C 2 -C 20 alkynyl, aryl, C 1 -C 20 carboxylate, C 1 -C 20 alkoxy, C 2 -C 20 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 20 alkylthio, C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfonyl, and C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfinyl; and L 1 is a thiazol-2-ylidene ligand of formula: wherein R 4 and R 5 are each independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or, together with the carbons carrying them, form a substituted or unsubstituted, fused 4-8 membered carbocylic ring or a substituted or unsubstituted, fused aromatic ring; and R 1, R 2, and R 3 are collectively defined as combination (a) or combination (b): (a) each R 1 is independently a primary or secondary C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; each R 2 is independently H; and R 3 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl, or a functional group selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, cyano, cyanato, thiocyanato, amino, nitro, nitroso, sulfo, sulfonato, boryl, borono, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino, and silyloxy; or (b) each R 1 is H; each R 2 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl; and R 3 is H. M is Ru or Os; n is 0, 1 or 2; X 1 and X 2 are independently anionic ligands; L is any neutral 2-electron donor ligand; m is 1 or 2; R 6 and R 7 are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 2 -C 20 alkenyl, C 2 -C 20 alkynyl, aryl, C 1 -C 20 carboxylate, C 1 -C 20 alkoxy, C 2 -C 20 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 20 alkylthio, C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfonyl, and C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfinyl; and L 1 is a thiazol-2-ylidene ligand of formula: R 4 and R 5 are each independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or, together with the carbons carrying them, form a substituted or unsubstituted, fused 4-8 membered carbocylic ring or a substituted or unsubstituted, fused aromatic ring; and R 1, R 2, and R 3 are collectively defined as combination (a) or combination (b): (a) each R 1 is independently a primary or secondary C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; each R 2 is independently H; and R 3 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl, or a functional group selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, cyano, cyanato, thiocyanato, amino, nitro, nitroso, sulfo, sulfonato, boryl, borono, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino, and silyloxy; or (b) each R 1 is H; each R 2 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl; and R 3 is H. (a) each R 1 is independently a primary or secondary C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; each R 2 is independently H; and R 3 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl, or a functional group selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, cyano, cyanato, thiocyanato, amino, nitro, nitroso, sulfo, sulfonato, boryl, borono, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino, and silyloxy; or (b) each R 1 is H; each R 2 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl; and R 3 is H.