Cu(II) and Mo(VI) Schiff base complexes immobilized on magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes: Oxidation of olefins and theoretical study

Abstract

In this study, magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNT@SiO2) were anchored with phenylene diamine and subsequently prepared as Schiff base through mono condensation with salicylaldehyde, resulting in MMWCNT@SiO2/Schiff base. This was then complexed with either copper acetate monohydrate or molybdenum oxide to form MMWCNT@SiO2/Schiff base/M (M=Cu, MoO2). The prepared samples were characterized with FTIR, EDS, SEM and XRD. The catalytic behavior of the prepared samples was studied in the oxidation reaction. The results revealed that MMWCNT@SiO2/Schiff base/M (M=Cu, MoO2) effectively catalyzed the oxidation reaction of α-methyl styrene leading to more than 99% conversion and selectivity of acetophenone. In addition to the experimental investigations, theoretical calculations were conducted using DFT calculations to provide further insights into the results.