1) I have a friend who needs to go practice some IFR approaches to stay
current. I am a private pilot ASEL. I'm pretty sure that it is not a
problem with me being his safety pilot but he told me I can log the time
PIC. Is this correct?


Yes but...

Since you will not be the "sole manipulator of the controls", then in order to
LOG PIC time =in this case=, you must BE the Pilot In Command. He will have to
have ceded the final authority to operate the aircraft to you. You therefore
would have to be qualified to act as PIC in that aircraft.


2) What are the requirements for complex and high performance aircraft? I
thought that an endorsement was required for planes with retractable gear
and a adjustable prop and another for planes with a greater than 200
horsepower engine.


Yes, unless you are grandfathered (have acted as PIC in these kinds of aircraft
prior to some date about ten years (?) in the past). You need a separate
endorsement for each, but it can be based on the same check flight if the
aircraft qualifies for both.


3) Ok, now the combination of the two. Lets say I do need an endorsment
for the complex/HP aircraft. Can I log time as the safety pilot in this
plane if I haven't yet gotten the endorsment for complex/HP?


No. I believe you can BE the safety pilot, but since you are not qualified to
ACT as Pilot In Command, you can't log PIC time unless you are "sole
manipulator", and that won't happen unless the ride goes really badly.

Jose

(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)