Interacting metal and ligand based open shell systems: Challenges for experiment and theory

Three-center bridged situations Ru-L-Ru and Q-M-Q (M = Ru, Co, Ni, Cu) containing redox-active transition metals and noninnocently behaving ligand redox systems L-k or Q(n) (o-iminoquinone/o-iminosemiquinone/o-amidophenolate series) can provide valuable insight into electronic and spin interactions of correlated coordination compounds. Experimental approaches using combined structural, electrochemical, spectroscopic (UV-vis-NIR) and magnetic resonance methods were employed with computational support to elucidate which of the potential alternatives are most appropriate to describe the individual electronic structures. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.