Reaction of neopentyllithium (LiNp) with the octaethylporphyrin complex Ru(OEP)Cl2 yields Ru-(OEP)Np (1), which can be treated with further LiNp to give [Ru(OEP)Np]2(mu-Li)2 (2). The structures of 1 (the first for an iron-group metalloporphyrin alkyl) and the more remarkable 2, revealing two Li atoms sandwiched between metalloporphyrin moieties, are determined.