First row transition metal complexes of di-o-substituted-diarylamine-based ligands (including carbazoles, acridines and dibenzoazepines)

•Concise survey of design, synthesis and properties of 385 complexes of di-ortho-substituted-diarylamine-based ligands.•Tables summarising selected features of the 96 structurally characterised complexes.•Summary of biocidal (medicinal, agricultural), to magnetic, electronic and optical, to catalytic (especially polymerisations) applications.•Accessible, attractive and useful reference work for those working in this rapidly expanding area.

First row transition metal (M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) complexes of di-o-substituted-diarylamine-based ligands reported prior to April 2014 (identified by SciFinder® Scholar search) are reviewed. Only the 408 complexes where the 3d metal ion is coordinated to the central nitrogen donor atom of this fragment are considered. The ligands identified using this search feature o-substituted aryl groups and include those based on diarylamines, triarylamines, carbazoles, acridines, phenoxazines and dibenzoazepines. The vast majority of the ligands employed are noncyclic, but approximately 40 of the complexes feature macrocyclic ligands. The ligand and metal complex syntheses, as well as the structures of the 96 complexes so characterised, are described. The complexes present a wide range of interesting properties which are also summarised here, including biocidal, magnetic, optical and catalytic activity, the last of these being the most commonly explored.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (124 K)Download as PowerPoint slide