A new zinc complex of 1-propyl-1H-benzo[d] imidazole: synthesis, characterization and electrocatalysis

Abstract

Abstract The present work reports the synthesis, characterization and performance of a new zinc(II) complex of [Zn(C3H7-bim)2Br2] (bim = benzimidazole) as electrocatalyst for trichloroacetic acid and bromate reduction. Its structure was characterized by X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The zinc atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry by coordinating to two bromine atoms and two nitrogen atoms from two 1-propyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole ligands. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalysis of the zinc complex bulk-modified carbon paste electrode (Zn-CPE) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The Zn-CPE shows good electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction of trichloroacetic acid and bromate. The detection limit and the sensitivity are 0.05 μM, 67.43 μA μM−1 for trichloroacetic acid detection, and 0.02 μM, 69.94 μA μM−1 for bromate detection, respectively. This modified electrode shows good reproducibility, high stability, low detection limit, technical simplicity and possibility of rapid preparation, which is important for practical applications.