Chiral mixed ligand (CML) metal complexes are synthesized by using isonitrosopropiophenone (HINPP) as a primary ligand and saccharides such as (+)-glucose and/or (-)-fructose as a chiral secondary ligand. The metal complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and various physico-chemical techniques such as molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, electronic absorption, infrared spectral studies and thermal analysis. Room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of these complexes are indicative of a tetrahedral and/or octahedral geometry. The molar conductance studies of the complexes indicate their non-electrolytic nature. Electronic absorption/reflectance spectra of the complexes show intra-ligand, charge transfer, and the d-d transitions, consistent with their proposed geometry. Thermal studies show the presence of lattice water in the complexes. The specific rotation of the complexes is due to the corresponding chiral saccharide moiety. The CML Co(II)/Ni(II) complexes, synthesized and characterized in the present work, have been used as catalysts decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The study on catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide deals with the use of these complexes as two different types of catalysts i.e. heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts heterogenised on alumina. It has been observed that complexes adsorbed on alumina (heterogenized) are better catalysts as compared to non-adsorbed complexes (heterogeneous catalysts).
