New metallophthalocyanine (M: Ni(II) and Fe(II)) complexes as efficient catalysts for transfer hydrogenation of various ketones

Hydrogen transfer reduction methods are attracting increasing attention from synthetic chemists in view of their operational simplicity. Therefore, the novel Ni(II) and Fe(II) tetra substituted metallophthalocyanines containing resorcinol and guaiacol groups were synthesized using microwave irradiation and characterized via elemental analysis, UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, and TGA. The comparison of the catalytic features of phthalocyanine based on metals is discussed in detail. These phthalocyanine-complexes were tested in transfer hydrogenation (TH) of ketones in the existence of KOH, utilizing 2-propanol as a hydrogen source. Examination of different carbonyl substrates revealed that Nickel (II) phthalocyanine, (Ni2) complex was a remarkable catalyst for the catalytic reduction of acetophenones (1.0 mol % of catalyst, 99 % conversion). Furthermore, we have discovered that the catalytic characteristics of this class of molecules are significantly influenced by both steric and electronic variables.