Synthesis, structures, and characterization of benzildiimine complexes of rhodium(III) and iridium(I)

Two new complexes of rhodium(III) (3) and iridium(I) (4) with two benzildiiminato-N,N′ (3: HBDI−) and one benzildiimine-N,N' ligand (4: H2BDI = 2) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR, Mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of 3 and 4 determined by X-ray diffraction studies as well as that of the starting ligand benzil-bis(trimethylsilyl)diimine (Si2BDI = 1) are also presented.