First row metal complexes of the hindered tridentate ligand 2,6-bis-(3′,5′-diphenylpyrazolyl)pyridine

The first crystal structures of first-row transition metal complexes with the recently developed bulky ligand 2,6-bis(3′,5′-diphenylpyrazolyl)pyridine (bdppp) are reported. [Display omitted] •New metal ligand complexes with a bulky bis(pyrazolyl)pyridine ligand are reported.•X-ray crystallography reveals the ligand pyridine is significantly distorted from the plane.•Mn, Ni, Co, and Zn form 1:1 complexes while Fe forms a 2:1 complex. Crystal structures of five first-row transition metal complexes of a recently-available bis-pyrazolylpyridine (bpp) ligand, 2,6-bis(3′,5′-diphenylpyrazolyl)pyridine (bdppp), prepared by reaction with transition metal chlorides, are reported. The ligand forms two types of structures, a 2:1 complex with Fe (II) chloride, and 1:1 complexes with Mn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II), chlorides, resulting in two different geometries. In all cases the ligand is tridentate, but in contrast to reported bpp structures, the plane of the pyridine ring coordinating with the metal is significantly distorted from the plane of the pyrazoles and metal.