Synthesis, experimental and theoretical characterization of palladium(II) and platinum(II) saccharinate complexes with 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole

New palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of saccharinate (sac) with 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole (pybim) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques. From the experimental studies, these complexes were formulated as [Pd(pybim)(sac)2] (1), and [Pt(pybim)(sac)2]·4H2O (2). The ground-state geometries of both complexes were optimized using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP level. A bidentate pybim ligand together with two N-coordinated sac ligands form the square-planar MN4 coordination geometry around the palladium(II) and platinum(II) ions. The calculated IR and UV-vis spectral data have been correlated to the experimental results. Thermal analysis data support the molecular structures of both complexes.