Effect of Phosphorus Amount on the Particle Size and Catalytic Performance of Heterogeneous Nickel(II) Schiff-Base Complex in Aldol Condensation Reaction

Abstract

The organic–inorganic hybrid of citric acid, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and triethylphosphate (TEP) doped by a nickel Schiff-base complex was prepared by sol–gel method. The prepared composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), and infrared spectroscopy (IR). In order to determine the phosphorus amount effect on the catalytic activity of the prepared composites, the aldol condensation was used as a model reaction. The results revealed that the composite with 10% phosphorus is a better catalyst in comparison with other composites.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the following free supplemental files: Additional figures file.]