Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Tri(pyrithione) Cerium Complex and Its Catalytic Property for Oxidation of Benzoin to Benzil

Abstract

Reaction of cerium nitrate and sodium pyrithione in aqueous solution and then crystallization of the product in dimethyl sulfoxide led to the complex of Ce(PT)₃(DMSO)₂ (PT = pyrithione) (1). Complex 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, and X-ray crystallography. Combined with sodium bromate, complex 1 displayed good catalytic activity for oxidation of benzoin to benzil. When the dosage of complex 1 was 10 mol% of benzoin, 76.2% of benzil could be yielded at 100°C in 0.75 h. The catalytic activity of complex 1 is much higher than that of cerium nitrate and ceric ammonium nitrate under comparable conditions.

Keywords:

• benzoin
• cerium
• oxidation
• pyrithione

Acknowledgments

Financial support from Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Environment Functional Materials and A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD) is gratefully acknowledged.