Catalytic activity of supra molecular self-assembled Nickel (II) coordination complex in synthesis of indeno-pyrimidine derivatives

A supra molecular self-assembled Ni(II) coordination complex, formulated as [Ni-2(2,6-pydc)(2)(mu-4,4'bpy)(H2O)(4)]center dot 2H(2)O (2,6-pydc: pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'bpy:4,4'-bipyridine) was synthesized under hydrothermal condition and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction and thermo gravimetric analysis. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with cell parameters a = 10.5237(6) angstrom, b = 20.1966(10) angstrom, c = 7.2366(4) angstrom, beta = 106.96(1 degrees), V = 1471.22(314) angstrom(3) and displays a 3D supramolecular network through hydrogen bond and C-H center dot center dot center dot pi, C-O center dot center dot center dot pi interactions. Nickel(II) metal species in the structure possess coordinately unsaturated centers, which exhibited viable catalytic properties in the synthesis of five different indeno-pyrimidine derivatives through one-pot reaction involving aldehyde, indane-1,3-dione and guanidinium chloride in a green approach. With the reaction achieved in 15 min time interval in ethanol in excellent yields (87-98%), plus the good recyclability (up to 6 times) provides advantage to this complex in heterogeneous catalysis. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.