Multi-walled carbon nanotube supported aminomethylphosphine-Ru(II) complexes: Optical behavior and catalytic properties in transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives

ABSTRACT

The novel multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) supported bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)amine [MWCNT@CHO-NHArN(CH₂PPh₂)₂ type] ligands and their Ru(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometry, X-Ray Diffraction Spectrometry (XRD), and Thermal analysis (TG/DTA) techniques. In addition, MWCNT@CHO-NHArN(CH₂PPh₂)₂Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂ type complexes were tried as catalysts in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions of acetophenone derivatives. The crystallite size and lattice strain of the MWCNT-based compounds were calculated by the Scherrer's equation. The optical parameters of the MWCNT-based structures were analyzed and the band gap enhanced from 4.42 eV to 4.98 eV. It was confirmed that the reduction of bromo and chloro acetophenone derivatives using all the catalysts, the conversions were high. The results showed that MWCNT-supported Ru(II) complexes were efficient catalysts in the reduction of bromo and chloro acetophenone derivatives with 99% efficiency in K₂CO₃ media at 80 ^°C.

KEYWORDS:

• Phosphine
• Carbon nanotube
• Catalyst
• Transfer hydrogenation
• optical property

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) (Project No.: 111T211) and Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University (Project No: 2013/6-33 M) for their financial supports.