ID Chains of Copper(II) Schiff Base Complexes as Efficient Photo-Fenton-Like Catalysts

Two copper(II) Schiff base complexes [Cu(HL1)ClO4](n) (1) and [Cu(HL2)NO3](n) (2) (H2L1=N-[(2-oxy-acetate) benzyl]-2-amino ethanol, H2L2=N-salicylidene-3-amino propanol) have been synthesized and explored as photo-Fenton-like catalysts for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) without acidification process. 1 and 2 show ID chain motifs and each copper(II) ion is six-coordinated in elongated octahedral environment. They are the first ID chains of copper (ID Schiff base complexes with excellent photocatalytic petiormance. 1 has advantages on catalyzing efficient MO degradation through homogeneous photo-Fenton-like reaction. The results indicate that the coordinated ligands have some effect on the photocatalytic activity of copper(H) complexes in this study.