<b>SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND THERMAL DEGRADATION OF OLIGO-2-[(4-IODOPHENYLIMINO)METHYL]PHENOL AND OLIGOMER-METAL COMPLEXES</b>

Abstract

The conditions for oxidative condensation of 2-[(4-iodophenylimino)methyl]phenol (IPIMP) were studied with air and NaOCl as oxidants in an aqueous alkaline medium between 50 and 90 °C. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed that the number-average molecular weight (M_n), weight-average molecular weight (M_w) and polydispersity index (PDI) values, respectively, were 1250, 1300 g mol^-1 and 1.040 for oxidation with NaOCl and 2200, 2500 g mol^-1 and 1.136 for oxidation by air. With the optimum reaction conditions, the yield of OIPIMP was found to be 67 % with NaOCl, and 29 % with air, as oxidant. The OIPIMP was characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis and elemental analysis. Metal complexes of the oligomer were shown to be more thermally stable than OIPIMP itself.

KEY WORDS: Oligo-2-[(4-iodophenylimino)methyl]phenol, Thermal analysis, Oxidative polycondensation, Oligomer-metal complexes

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2009, 23(1), 55-62.