Template synthesis and characterization of hexaaza macrocycles containing pyridine iron(II) complex nanoparticles dispersed within nanoreactors of zeolite-Y

Iron(II) complexes with 18- and 20-membered hexaaza macrocyclic ligands were entrapped in the nanoreactors of zeolite-Y by a two-step process in the liquid phase: (i) adsorption of [bis(diamine)iron(II)] (diamine = 1,2-diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,2-diaminobenzene, 1,3-diaminobenzene); [Fe(N–N)2]2+–NaY; in the nanoreactors of the zeolite, and (ii) template condensation of the iron(II) precursor complex with 2,6-diacetylpyridine.The mode of bonding and overall geometry of the complexes and new complex nanoparticles entrapped in the nanoreactor of zeolite-Y ([Fe([18 or 20]py2N4)]2+–NaY, [Fe(Bzo2[18 or 20]py2N4)]2+–NaY) has been inferred through FT-IR, TGA, XRD, XPS spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis as well as nitrogen adsorption.