Syntheses, characterization, density functional theory calculations, and activity of tridentate SNS zinc pincer complexes

► Synthesized and characterized a series of SNS Zn(II) pincer compounds. ► Zn(II) complexes enhance reduction of aldehydes in presence of hydrogen donor. ► Correlated cyclic voltammetry results with Gaussian calculations. ► Performed DFT calculations to understand geometry about Zn center.