Novel nanohybrids of cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes and clay: Synthesis and structural determinations

•Novel cobalt Schiff base complexes were prepared and their structures were confirmed by different techniques.•The X-ray crystallography results show that they are hexacoordinated in the solid state.•Nanohybrid of the above complexes and MMT clay were prepared via ion-exchange method.•FT-IR, TGA/DTG, XRD, SEM, EDX and TEM were used for the characterization of these materials.•SEM and TEM show the resulting hybrid nanomaterials have layer structures.

The [Co(Me2Salen)(PBu3)(OH2)]BF4 and [Co(Me2Salen)(PPh3)(Solv)]BF4, complexes were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis techniques. The coordination geometry of [Co(Me2Salen)(PPh3)(H2O)]BF4 was determined by X-ray crystallography. It has been found that the complex is containing [Co(Me2Salen)(PPh3)(H2O)]BF4 and [Co(Me2Salen)(PPh3)(EtOH)]BF4 hexacoordinate species in the solid state. Cobalt atom exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry and the Me2Salen ligand has the N2O2 coordinated environment in the equatorial plane. The [Co(Me2Salen)(PPh3)(H2O)]BF4 complex shows a dimeric structure via hydrogen bonding between the phenolate oxygen and hydrogens of coordinated H2O molecule. These complexes were incorporated into Montmorillonite-K10 nanoclay. The modified clays were identified by FT-IR, XRD, EDX, TGA/DTA, SEM and TEM techniques. According to the XRD results of the new nanohybrid materials, the Schiff base complexes are intercalated in the interlayer spaces of the clay. SEM and TEM micrographs show that the resulting hybrid nanomaterials have layer structures. Also, TGA/DTG results show that the intercalation reaction was taken place successfully.

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