Synthesis and characterization of complexes imparting N-pyridyl bonded meso-pyridyl substituted dipyrromethanes

The meso-pyridyl substituted dipyrromethane ligands 5-(4-pyridyl)dipyrromethane (4-dpmane) and 5-(3-pyridyl)dipyrromethane (3-dpmane) have been employed in the synthesis of a series of complexes with the general formulations [(η6-arene)RuCl2(L)] (η6-arene = C6H6, C10H14) and [(η5-C5Me5)MCl2(L)] (M = Rh, Ir). The reaction products have been characterized by microanalyses and spectral studies and molecular structures of the complexes [(η6-C10H14)RuCl2(4-dpmane)] and [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl2(3-dpmane)] have been determined crystallographically. For comparative studies, geometrical optimization have been performed on the complex [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl2(4-dpmane)] using exchange correlation functional B3LYP. Optimized bond length and angles are in good agreement with the structural data of the complex [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl2(3-dpmane)]. The complexes [(η6-C10H14)RuCl2(3-dpmane)], [(η5-C5Me5)RhCl2(3-dpmane)] and [(η5-C5Me5)IrCl2(3-dpmane)] have been employed as a transfer hydrogenation catalyst in the reduction of aldehydes. It was observed that the rhodium and iridium complexes mentioned above are more effective in this regard in comparison to the ruthenium complex.