Spectroscopic characterization of coordination complexes based on dichlorocopper(II) and poly(4-vinylpyridine): Application in catalysis

In this work, the formation of transition metal complexes (a and b) between CuCl2 · 2H2O and poly(4-vinylpyridine)/divinylbenzene(2%) polymeric matrix is described. The SEM/EDX, UV-vis/DR, EPR, FT-IR, XPS, DTA-TGA and DSC techniques suggest the coordination of the nitrogen atom of pyridine groups of the organic polymer to the Cu(II) center. These complexes act as catalyst precursors for the water gas shift reaction as well as the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline and azobenzene.