Synthesis, characterization and multi-dimensional application approach for two distinctive tetra nuclear, first-time reported, Fe/Hg and Fe/Cd clusters from a new Fe containing metalloligand

• Published in: New journal of chemistry 2022-09, Vol.46 (35), p.1673-16742
• Main Authors: Laha, Soumik, Sathapathi, Dibyendu, Das, Mainak, Das, Manik, Ray, Partha Pratim, Bag, Arijit, Samanta, Bidhan Chandra, Das, Uttam Kumar, Maity, Tithi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1144-0546; 1369-9261
• DOI: 10.1039/d2nj03357g

A new mononuclear Fe 3+ metalloligand MC1 [FeLN 3 (H 2 O)], developed by using the N 2 O 2 donor Schiff base ligand H 2 L, has been successfully used to detect and remove Hg 2+ and Cd 2+ from several transition metal ions with the formation of two unusual hetero metallic μ-oxo Fe 3+ -Hg 2+ /Cd 2+ clusters, [(Fe 2 3+ )(μ-O)L 2 Cl 4 (Hg 2 2+ )] ( MC2 ) and [(Fe 2 3+ )(μ-O)L 2 I 4 Cd 2 2+ ] ( MC3 ) [(where H 2 L is 6, 6′-(1E, 1′E) (ethane-1, 2 diylbis(azaneylidene))bis(methaneylylidene))bis(2-ethoxyphenol)]. All three complexes were identified by X-ray single-crystal data analysis along with a range of spectral studies. In MC1 , the Fe 3+ is coordinated with deprotonated H 2 L, one water molecule, and one azide ion as a secondary anionic residue, forming an octahedral geometry. Interestingly, MC2 and MC3 are isostructural, where each asymmetric unit contains deprotonated H 2 L, one Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ /Cd 2+ metal center, two Cl − /I − and two Fe 3+ centers are connected by a μ-O bridge to form tetranuclear complexes. As the band gap energy values of MC1 , MC2 , and MC3 (3.07 eV, 2.69 eV, and 2.55 eV, respectively) are in the visible region so all the three complexes are exposed to investigate their potentiality to be effective Schottky devices and at the same time a thorough inspection has been carried out to check their catalytic behaviour in aqueous medium in terms of methylene blue (MEB) dye degradation under visible light irradiation. A thorough inspection reveals the better MB dye degradation potentiality of MC3 in comparison to MC2 in the presence of H 2 O 2 . At the same time, the investigation of the device performances, conductivity, and device parameters disclose more effectiveness of MC3 in comparison to MC2 in a better Schottky device. The effectiveness of MC3 in both applications may be attributed to its lower band gap value. Synthesis of two unique μ oxo-bridged complexes MC2 and MC3 from a metalloligand MC1 results to efficient dye degradation efficacy and effective schottkey device.