Spectroscopic, and electrochemical studies of [MCl2(η2-N,N-dpksc)] (M = Zn, Cd, Hg and dpksc = di-2-pyridylketone semicarbazone)

► [MCl2(η2-N,N-dpksc)] (M = Zn, Cd or Hg; and dpksc = di-2-pyridylketone semicarbazone) were prepared from the direct reactions between MCl2 and dpksc in CH3CN. ► The amine protons are more sensitive to temperature variations compared to the amide proton. ► Reversible inter-conversion between [MCl2(η2-N,N-dpksc)] and its conjugate base was established. ► [MCl2(η2-N,N-dpksc)] and dpksc are not stable to redox transformations.