A series of sulfonate-tagged 1,4-diazabutadiene (DAD(S)) ligands was prepared as salts with typical ionic liquid (IL) cations ([EMIM](+), [BMIM](+), [BMMIM](+), Bu(4)N(+), Bu(3)PMe(+), [Gua-4,4-4,4-4,1](+)). Complexation behaviour of the ligands was investigated by preparing complexes of the types [BMMIM](2)[MCl(2)(DAD(S))] (M = Pd, Pt), [BMMIM][Rh(COD)(DAD(S))] and [BMMIM](2)[Mo(CO)(4)(DAD(S))]. Using UV-Vis spectroscopy, the latter sulfonate-tagged chromophore was shown to be well soluble in the sulfonate IL [BMIM]OTf and completely insoluble in toluene, resulting in perfect immobilization. The crystal structures of [HNEt(3)](2)[2,6-Me(2)-Me-DAD(S)], [BMIM](2)[2,6-Me(2)-Me-DAD(S)], [BMMIM](2)[2,4,6-Me(3)-Me-DAD(S)], [BMMIM](2)[2,6-iPr(2)-Me-DAD(S)] and [HNEt(3)](2)[PdCl(2)(2,6-Me(2)-Me-DAD(S))] were determined. Regarding the diimine fragment, they show geometries similar to the respective non-sulfonated parent compounds.