Hydroxyphenyl- and octoxyphenyl-substituted dipyrazinylpyridine complexes of ruthenium(II), iron(II) and nickel(II)

► First and second row transition metal complexes of a tridentate ligand are reported. ► We provide and compare geometries in four crystal structures. ► Density functional Theory derives the electronic structures of these species. ► Unusual electron distribution is observed in some excited states.