Reactions of 1-{[2-(arylazo)phenyl]iminomethyl}-2-phenol, HL [where H represents the dissociable phenolic protons of ligands and aryl groups of HL are C₆H₅ (HL¹), 𝑝-CH₃C₆H₅ (HL²), 𝑝-ClC₆H₅ (HL³)] with Os(H)(CO)(Br)(PPh₃)₃ in toluene and with Co(ClO₄)₃.6H₂O in methanol afforded new facially coordinated complexes of composition [(L)Os(CO)(Br)(PPh₃)] and [(L)₂Co]ClO₄. The anionic ligand (L)⁻, binds the metal in tridentate (N, N, O) manner in [(L)Os(CO)(Br)(PPh₃)] and [(L)₂Co]ClO₄ complexes. All the Os(II) and Co(III) complexes are diamagnetic and show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. The cyclic voltammograms exhibited one quasi reversible oxidative response near 0.10 V vs SCE for [(L)Os(CO)(Br)(PPh₃)] and [(L)₂Co]ClO₄ complexes displayed serial reductive responses within −0.06 to −1.61 V vs SCE. Single point DFT calculation was carried out to examine the nature of redox orbitals. Conversion of ketones to corresponding alcohols has been studied using [(L)Os(CO)(Br)(PPh₃)] as catalyst.

The new complexes of compositions $[(L_{a})_{2}Cu]$ and $[(L_{b})_{2}Cu]$ were prepared by treating with2-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(2-aryldiazenyl)phenylimino) methyl) benzaldehyde $(HL_{a})$ and ethyl-2-cyano-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(-(2-aryldiazenyl) phenylimino) methyl) phenyl) acrylate $(HL_{b})$ ligands [where aryl isphenyl for $HL_{a}^{1}$ and $HL_{b}^{1}$ ; p-methyl phenyl for $HL_{a}^{2}$ and $HL_{b}^{2}$ ; and p-chloro phenyl for $HL_{a}^{3}$ and $HL_{b}^{3}$ ] with $Cu(OAc)_{2}.H_{2}O$, respectively. Both the bis copper(II) complexes consist of tridentate (N,N,O) anionic ligands, $L^{-}_a$ or $L^{-}_b$ . X-ray structures of the representative complexes $[(L^{1}_{a})_{2}Cu]$ and $[(L^{2}_{b})_{2}Cu]$ were determined toconfirm the molecular species unequivocally. The molecular structure of copper complexes exhibited tetragonallydistorted (Jahn-Teller) geometry consistent with the $d^{9}$ configuration of Cu(II) metal ion. Oxidation ofbenzyl alcohols using the newly synthesized complexes as catalyst has been studied. Photoluminescence propertiesof $[(L^{2}_{a})_{2}Cu]$ and $[(L^{2}_{b})_{2}Cu]$ were exploited for selective cyanide recognition. The $[(L_{b})_{2}Cu], complexesdisplayed antibacterial activity toward gram positive and gram negative bacteria