Synthesis and characterization of a novel ruthenium(ii) trisbipyridine complex magnetic nanocomposite for the selective oxidation of phenols.

Anchoring ruthenium(ii) trisbipyridine complex [Ru(Bpy) 3 ] 2+ into a magnetic dendritic fibrous silica nanostructure produces an unprecedented strong nanocatalyst, FeNi 3 /DFNS/[Ru(Bpy) 3 ] 2+ . Impressive oxidation of phenols to 1,4-benzoquinones catalyzed by FeNi 3 /DFNS/[Ru(Bpy) 3 ] 2+ is obtained in acetonitrile and water solution with molecular dioxygen as oxidant. Exclusively, apparently inert phenols such as phenol itself and mono-alkyl-substituted phenols are impressively oxidized to produce 1,4-benzoquinones through activation of the C-H bond in the position para to the carbon-oxygen bond under mild conditions. In addition, the production of industrially significant quinones that are known intermediates for vitamin combinations is investigated and studied FeNi 3 /DFNS/[Ru(Bpy) 3 ] 2+ magnetic nanoparticles were produced, and their properties were investigated by AFM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, TEM, and VSM.