Copper(II) complex of monobasic tridentate ONN donor ligand: synthesis, encapsulation in zeolite-Y, characterization, and catalytic activity

Reaction between CuCl2 and (Z)-2-(1-(2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) ethylimino) ethyl) phenol (Hhap-aebmz) derived from o-hydroxyacetophenone (Hhap) and 2-aminoethylbenzimidazole (aebmz) gives [Cu-II(hap-aebmz)Cl]. Elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, spectral (IR and electronic) data, and single crystal X-ray studies confirm the distorted square planar structure of the complex. [Cu-II(hap-aebmz)Cl] has been encapsulated in the nano-cavity of zeolite-Y and its encapsulation is ensured by various physico-chemical techniques. The encapsulated complex has been used as a catalyst for oxidation of cyclohexene and phenol in the presence of H2O2. With nearly quantitative oxidation of cyclohexene, the selectivity of the oxidation products follows the order, 2-cyclohexene-1-ol (44%) > 2-cyclohexene-1-one (40%) > cyclohexeneoxide (12%) > cyclohexane-1,2-diol (4%). Oxidation of phenol (65.7%) gives catechol (66.1%) > hydroquinone (32.9%).