Ru(II)-halide-carbonyl complexes of naphthylazoimidazoles: Synthesis, spectra, electrochemistry, catalytic activity and electronic structure

► Ru(II)-halide-carbonyl complexes of naphthylazoimidazoles are reported. ► The structure has been established by X-ray diffraction measurements. ► Cyclic voltammetry shows metal oxidation and reduction of chelated azoimine function. ► The complexes show catalytic activity to the oxidation of alcohol to aldehyde/ketone by NMO, H2O2, ButOOH. ► DFT calculation of optimized structure explains the origin of spectra and redox properties.