Synthesis, structure, spectra and redox behavior of a ruthenium(III) complex with a tripodal Schiff base ligand

Department of Chemistry, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan-713 104, India E-mail : dr_swapan@sify.com Fax: 91-342-530452 Manuscript received 27 July 2001; revised 11 June 2002, accepted 12 July 2002 The reaction of equimolar proportion of septadentate tripodal Schiff base ligand, tris[2-salicylidene(amino)ethyllamine, H3L (1) and RuCI3.3H2O in refluxing methanol in presence of alkali has afforded a dark coloured compound of composition [RuIIIL].CH2CL2.H2O. X-ray analysis of the complex shows that the septadentate ligand is coordinated octahedrally to ruthenium and triopodal nitrogen is not in bonding distance (Ru .... N(1) = 3.545(12) Å) to ruthenium. The complex is redox active and displays one one-electron reduction and one one-electron oxidation couples with E1/2 values -0.58 and 0.61 V vs SCE, respectively