Grafting of a copper(II) Schiff base complex on functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)

The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other carbon materials as support for homogeneous catalysts is an untapped area, despite of their broad use as catalysts and as supports for metals in its reduced state. Conversely, CNTs present several advantages when compared to inorganic supports; they are thermally stable, resistant to chemical attack in acid and basic media [1,2]. In the present study, hydroxyl functionalized copper(II) Schiff-base; [Cu((OH)2-salophen)], [(OH)2-salophen] = (N,N´-bis(4-hydroxysalicylidene)phenylene-1,2-diamine); has been covalently anchored on modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs); [Cu((OH)2-salophen)]@MWNTs. The new modified MWNTs have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Diffuse reflectance (DRS), FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis.