Grafting of copper(II) Schiff base complex on functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic aziridination of olefins

Abstract

In this study, hydroxyl functionalized copper(II) Schiff-base; [Cu((OH)2-salophen)], [(OH)2-salophen]=(N,Ń-bis(4-hydroxysalicylidene) phenylene-1,2-diamine); has been covalently anchored on modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs); [Cu((OH)2-salophen)]@MWNTs. The new modified MWNTs have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–visible spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The results suggest that the symmetrical Schiff-base is a bivalent anion with tetradentate N2O2 donors derived from the phenolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogen. MWNTs covalently anchored copper(II) complex catalyze the aziridination of alkenes employing [N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (PhI=NTs) as the nitrogen source.