We report the synthesis and characterization of the first transition metal complex of a phenalenylbased ligand. The reaction of Cu(OAc)₂.H₂O with 9-𝑁-methylamino-1-𝑁'$-methylimino-phenalene (LH) in 1:1 stoichiometric ratio results in the formation of a mononuclear copper complex [LCu(OAc)] (1). The molecular structure of 1 was established by X-ray crystallography. The electrochemistry of 1 indicates the formation of an anionic radical by one electron reduction into the non-bonding molecular orbital of the phenalenyl system. The complex 1 efficiently catalyses the C-C bond forming Henry reaction.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of 9-hydroxophenalenone based alkaline earth and zinc complexes.The reaction of 9-hydroxophenalenone (HO,O-PLY (1)) with one equivalent of KN(SiMe₃)₂ and MI₂ in THF yields heteroleptic complexes [(O,O-PLY)M(THF)$_n$]I [M= Mg (2), Ca (3), Sr (4), Ba (5); n = 1-4], while use of two equivalents of KN(SiMe₃)₂ in THF (with respect to PLY) produces homoleptic complex (O,O-PLY)₂Mg(THF)₂ (6). Moreover, reaction between two equivalents of 1 with one equivalent of ZnMe₂ in THF produces complex (O,O-PLY)₂Zn(THF)₂ (7). All these complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The solid state structures of complexes 2, 6 and 7 were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.