SCHIFF BASE-METAL COMPLEXES AS CATALYSTS FOR ORGANIC TRANSFORMATIONS: EXPLORING GREEN CHEMISTRY APPROACHES

Characterization, catalytic properties, and potential applications in organic transformations adhering to the principles of green chemistry of Schiff base metal complexes are studied. Stable metal-ligand complexes were formed using Schiff base ligands derived from salicylaldehyde and primary amines, complexed with metal ions (Cu, Zn, and Ni). A variety of techniques were used to characterize the synthesized complexes, including FTIR, NMR, XRD, UV-Vis, and TGA, which proved successful metal coordination and high thermal stability. The catalytic efficiency of the copper complexes was the highest among the complexes tested, with benzyl alcohol oxidation giving high yields (82–92%) and turnover frequencies. The environmental advantages of these catalysts were further highlighted by green chemistry metrics, such as atom economy, E-factor, and substrate conversion. Studies show that Schiff base metal complexes are good to recyclable and undergo minimal deactivation after five cycles, indicating that Schiff base metal complexes constitute an efficient and sustainable method of catalysis in organic synthesis.