Thermal and kinetic studies on solid complexes of 2-(2-benzimidazolylazo)-4-acetamidophenol with some transition metals

The preparation and characterization of 2-(2-benzimidazolylazo)-4-acetamidophenol (BIAAP) complexes are reported. Different physico-chemical methods like IR, Magnetic, solid reflectance spectra and molar conductance, were used to investigate the structure of BIAAP complexes. In particular, the thermal decomposition of Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes of BIAAP is studied in nitrogen atmosphere. All the complexes do not contain coordinated water molecules but contain (2-4) water molecules of crystallization. The water molecules were removed in a single step. The complexes of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions exhibited a phase transition and the decomposition or combustion of BIAAP occurred in the second and subsequent steps. The final decomposition products were identified by mass spectrometry as the corresponding metal oxides or carbonate. The activation thermodynamic parameters, such as, energy of activation, enthalpy, entropy and free energy change of the complexes were evaluated and the stabilities of the thermal decomposition of the complexes are discussed. From the kinetic point of view, it is found that the thermal stability of the complexes follows the order Ni(II) > Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Fe(III) > Co(II) > Cd(II).