Host (nanodimensional pores of zeolite Y)–guest (tetraaza[14]annulene nickel(II) complexes, [Ni(Me4R2Bzo[14]tetraeneN4)]) nanocomposite materials: Ship-in-a-bottle synthesis, characterization and liquid phase oxidation of phenol with hydrogen peroxide

Nickel(II) complexes with tetraaza[14]annulene ligands “5,7,12,14-tetramethyldibenzo-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecine [Ni(Me4R2Bzo[14]tetraeneN4)] (R = H, CH3, Cl and NO2) have been prepared from the one-pot template condensation reaction of substituted-1,2-phenylenediamine (4-methyl-; 4-chloro-; 4-nitro-1,2-phenylenediamine) with 2,4-pentanedione in the presence of nickel(II) ion within the nanocavity pores of zeolite-Y [Ni(Me4R2Bzo[14]tetraeneN4)]@NaY”. The new materials were characterized by several techniques: chemical analysis and spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, UV/VIS, XRD, BET and DRS). All encapsulated complexes served as catalyst for the oxidation of phenol to a mixture of catechol and hydroquinone using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. A suitable reaction condition has been optimized for [Ni(Me4(NO2)2Bzo[14]tetraeneN4)]@NaY by considering the effect of various parameters such as reaction time and amount of oxidant, different solvents, concentration of substrate etc., for the maximum transformation of phenol.