Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure determination, thermal study and catalytic activity of a new oxidovanadium Schiff base complex

A new bidentate ON Schiff base ligand of HL (HL = 5-nitro-2-hydroxybenzyl-2-furylmethyl) imine), was synthesized by simple condensation reaction of 5-nitro-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-furfurylamine. Then by reaction of a methanolic solutions of the HL and VO(acac)2 in the ratio of 2:1, a new oxidovanadium(IV) Schiff base complex of VOL2 was synthesized. The Schiff base ligand and its vanadyl Schiff base complex were characterized by FT-IR, UV–vis spectra and CHN analysis. Single crystals suitable for X-ray analysis were obtained in DMSO as a VOL2(DMSO) complex. The crystal structure of the VOL2(DMSO) was determined by the single-crystal X-ray analysis. The coordination geometry around the vanadium center can be described as a distorted octahedron formed by two phenolato oxygen and two imine nitrogen atoms of the two Schiff base ligands in the equatorial position, the oxygen atom of DMSO and the oxido ion coordinated in the axial position. Thermogravimetric analysis of the VOL2 showed that the formation of mixed vanadium oxides at 450 ˚C. In addition, decomposition of the vanadyl Schiff base complex (VOL2) in air at 660 °C resulted in the formation of the V2O5 nano particles with the average size of 52 nm. The catalytic activity of the VOL2 complex was evaluated in the epoxidation of cyclooctene (90% conversion and 100% epoxide) and oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide (100% conversion and 100% sulfoxide).