Synthesis characterization and investigation of catalytic activities of amino acid coupled lipoic acid-zinc nanoparticles on thymol oxidation

In this study, ZnS nanoparticles and ZnS-CuS nanocomposites were synthesized in the presence of lipoic acid and amino acid coupled lipoic acid ligands, which are caping agents. While the structures of organic ligands were characterized by NMR, FT-IR and HRMS analysis, the structures of synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FT-IR and Particle Size Measurement (Zeta Sizer). The catalytic activities of the synthesized ZnS-CuS nanocomposites in oxidation reactions were investigated on the oxidation reaction of thymol compound to thymoquinone. In the oxidation reactions, t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was used as an oxygen source and it was determined that the synthesized nanocomposites were very effective catalysts for the thymol oxidation reaction.