Cyclometalated Iridium(III) and Rhodium(III) Complexes Containing Naphthyridine Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Studies

The synthesis, crystal structure, and biological activity of new bis-cyclometalated compounds [M(ptpy)(2)(4-chloro-2-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine)]PF6 [M = Rh (1); M = Ir (2); ptpy = 2-(p-tolyl)pyridinato] and [M(ptpy)(2)(2-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine)]PF6 [M = Rh (3); M = Ir (4)] are described. The new compounds were prepared by the reaction of [{M(-Cl)(ptpy)(2)}(2)] (M = Rh, Ir) with the corresponding naphthyridine ligands. The molecular structures of compounds 1, 3, and 4 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.