Catalytic Activity of an Asymmetric Uranyl‐Salophen on 2,4‐Dichlorophenol, 2,4,6‐Trichlorophenol, and Pentachlorophenol

• Published in: Applied organometallic chemistry Vol. 38; no. 11
• Main Authors: Lan, Wenbo, Guo, Wenlu, Wang, Xiaofeng, Nie, Changming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Activated carbon; Aromatic compounds; asymmetric uranyl‐Salophen; Catalytic activity; Charge distribution; Chemical bonds; chlorophenol; Density functional theory; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectra; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Pentachlorophenol; Skewed distributions; Trichlorophenols; Ultraviolet spectra; Wiberg bond indices
• ISSN: 0268-2605; 1099-0739
• DOI: 10.1002/aoc.7666

ABSTRACT This study employs density functional theory to investigate whether asymmetric uranyl‐Salophen catalyzes the activation of 2,4‐dichlorophenol, 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol. Changes in various important parameters such as bond lengths, Wiberg bond indices, infrared vibrational absorption spectra, natural charge distributions, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra, and 13C NMR chemical shifts of the aromatic rings of chlorophenols before and after forming complexes with asymmetric uranyl‐Salophen are analyzed. This means that asymmetric uranyl‐Salophen indeed activates 2,4‐dichlorophenol, 2,4, 6‐trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol, significantly lengthening the aromatic ring bonds of the three chlorophenols and increasing the electrophilicity of the carbon atoms in the aromatic ring. This suggests that the conjugated system of the aromatic ring is also partially disrupted, indicating that these three chlorophenols are indeed catalytically activated. Furthermore, this implies that this asymmetric uranyl‐Salophen may be used to degrade chlorophenols in water. This study employs density functional theory to investigate whether asymmetric uranyl‐salophen catalyzes the activation of 2,4‐dichlorophenol, 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol through an analysis of alterations in bond lengths, Wiberg indices, IR and UV‐Vis spectra, and 13C NMR shifts. The findings reveal elongated bond lengths and increased electrophilicity, indicating partial disruption of the aromatic system and potential catalytic activation, thereby suggesting a possible application for the degradation of chlorophenols in water.