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

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)(2)Ru(p-cymene)Cl-2 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 degrees C.