Novel chromotropism and catalytic activities of Cu(Schiff-base) moiety immobilized in Y-zeolite matrix

The deep purple colored [Cu(3-EtO-salen)] [3-EtO-salenH2 = N,N′-bis-(3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde)-ethylenediimine] turns yellow when encapsulated in NaY zeolite. The hybrid materials Cu(3-EtO-salen)–NaY as well as the pristine complex [Cu(3-EtO-salen)] have been characterized using several techniques like IR spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, EPR spectroscopy to understand the mechanism of the color change. The hybrid material showed excellent catalytic activity in hydroxylation reactions towards phenol and 1-naphthol.