Synthesis, structural, spectral, electrochemical and catalytic properties of VO (IV) complexes containing N, O donors

Complexes of the general formula M (X-DPMP)2 [where, (M = VOIV), DPMP = 2-[(2,6-Diisopropyl-phenylimino)-methyl]-phenol and X = Br, BrCl, Ph] have been synthesized and characterized by IR, electronic, ESR spectral, magnetic and cyclic voltammetry measurements. The newly synthesized Schiff bases act as monobasic bidentate ligand in their complexes. The spectral data indicate that the ligand coordinates through the phenolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogen atoms. The observed parameters, hyperfine splitting constant (A) and Landé splitting energy (g) are found to be in good agreement with the values generally observed for the vanadyl complex with square pyramidal geometry. The cyclic voltammetric redox potentials of VO (IV) complexes suggest the existence of irreversible pairs in acetonitrile. The vanadium complexes were screened for sulfide oxidation studies and VO (C19H21BrON)2 or [VO (Br-DPMP)2] was found to be an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of various sulfides to sulfoxides with PhIO terminal oxidant. Both aryl and alkyl sulfides were selected and converted into sulfoxides in good to excellent yields.