Complexes of “late” transition metals of the 3d row based on functionalized o-iminobenzoquinone type ligands: Interrelation of molecular and electronic structure, magnetic behaviour

• Synthetic methods to prepare 3d-metal complexes with o-iminoquinones. • The structural features of metal complexes with functionalized o-iminoquinones. • Influence of the organic ligands structure on the magnetic properties of complexes. The present review covers the coordination compounds of the “late” transition metals of the 3d row (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) based on sterically hindered functionalized o-iminobenzoquinone type ligands featured by the presence of various functional groups. These functions cause the changes of the molecular and electronic structures of metal complexes and the degree of steric shielding of the metal centre. The latter parameter affects the mutual arrangement of interacting magnetic orbitals and introduces specific changes to the channels of magnetic exchange interactions in the coordination compound. The following aspects are discussed in detail in the present review: the relationship between the structural modifications and the magnetic behaviour of o-iminobenzoquinonato complexes of 3d row elements; the effect of the molecular structure transformations both on the oxidation state and the spin state multiplicity of the metal centre, as well as on the oxidation state of the redox-active organic ligand. The systematization of the literature published mainly from 2007 to 2020 has been carried out. The bibliography contains 173 references.