Ruthenium(II) 2-hydroxybenzophenone N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazone complexes

New ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-hydroxybenzophenone N(4)-substituted (Me, Ph and/or piperidyl) thiosemicarbazones have been prepared and characterised by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, thermal analysis, spectroscopy (i.r., 1H-n.m.r. and u.v.–vis.) and by cyclic voltammetry. The thiosemicarbazones coordinate to ruthenium(II) as mononegative tridentate ligands via the deprotonated hydroxyl group, N1 nitrogen and thione sulphur centres. The redox properties, nature of the electrode processes and the stability of the complexes towards oxidation in CH2Cl2 are discussed. The change in the E1/2 values of the complexes can be related to the basicity of the N(4)-substituents. All the complexes display an irreversible one-electron charge-transfer couple in the potential range studied.