Triazolopyridine ligand, {3-(2-pyridyl)-[1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]-pyridine}, L was synthesized by reaction of p-toulenesulphonyl hydrazine and dipyridyl ketone in the presence of acetic acid. Half-sandwich ruthenium, rhodium and iridium complexes [1–4] have been synthesized by reaction of [{(arene)MCl₂}₂] (arene= p-cymene/benzene/Cp* and M = Ru/Rh/Ir) with ligand L in methanol. The reaction in 1:2 (M:L) ratio has yielded all mononuclear cationic complexes such as [(arene)MLκ²_N∩N Cl]PF₆, where {(arene)M} = (p-cym)Ru(1), (benz)Ru (2), Cp*Rh (3) and Cp*Ir (4). All the complexes were characterized by spectral studies and the solid state structures of complexes, 1 and 3 were unambiguously determined by crystallographic studies.

A series of Cp*Rh and Cp*Ir complexes of various nitrogen and oxygen donor ligands were synthesized and characterized. Mono, bi and tetradentate ligands were used to synthesize mononuclear and dinuclear complexes. Schiff base derivatives of picolinic hydrazine and 5-aminoquinoline were used in thesynthesis of complexes 1–8. Among the ligands used for complexation, L1 and L2 act as bidentate, L3 as monodentate and L4 as tetradentate in forming the corresponding complexes. All the complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and the structures of complexes 2, 3, 5 and 7 were unambiguouslycharacterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 2 and 7 were found to have π-π stacking interactions and solvent to complex interactions, respectively. Metal-mediated deprotonation of N-H and monodentate binding of nitrogen are attributed to the formation of neutral complexes whereas ionic complexes are formed by (N,O) bonding.