Synthesis and catalytic activity of dipyrrin-zinc complex

In this study, 1,3,7,9-tetramethyl-5-phenyldipyrromethene (DPM) and 1,3,7,9-tetramethyl-5-(4-ethoxyphenyl)dipyrromethene (EDPM) bidentate ligands and their complexes with Zn(II) in basic media, bis(1,3,7,9-tetramethyl-5-phenyldipyrrinato)-zinc(II) (DPM)2-Zn and bis(1,3,7,9-tetramethyl-5-(4-ethoxy)phenyldipyrrinato)-zinc(II) (EDPM)2-Zn have been synthesized. The structures of the ligands and the complexes were characterized by NMR, FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activities of synthesized dipyrin-Zn (II) complexes on oxidation of various alcohols (1-phenyl ethanol, benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, cinnamyl alcohol) have been investigated. The oxidation reactions were carried out by homogeneous catalysis and t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) used as oxygen sources. The synthesized complexes have found to be highly effective catalysts for the oxidation of the studied alcohols.