Two low-dimensional Schiff base copper(i/ii) complexes: synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity for degradation of organic dyes

Two low-dimensional oxime-containing Schiff base copper (I/II) complexes with iodine–copper cluster Cu2I42− bridges, namely, CuII4I3 (pop) 42 (CuI2I4) · (CH3CN) 2·H2O (2) and CuII4I2 (pop) 4 (CuI2I4) · (CH3CN) n (3) (Hpop = 2- (hydroxyimino) -N′-1- (2-yridyl) ethylidenepropanehydrazone), have been synthesized from the reaction of 2 × 2 grid-like compound CuIII (pop) 42·4H2O (1) with equivalent CuI2I2 (iodine–copper clusters) under solvothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis (EA), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray single-crystal/powder diffraction. The results show that 2 is a 0-D discrete structure from an assembly of one Cu2I42− unit and two 2 × 2 molecular grids (1) via μ3-I atoms coordinating to CuI/CuII atoms. However, compound 3 presents a 1-D wave-like chain, which is constructed by coordination of μ2-I atoms from CuI2I42− units with CuII atoms in 2 × 2 molecular grids (1). Moreover, catalytic experiments demonstrated that compounds 2 and 3 have promising visible-light-driven catalytic activity in degrading various organic dyes.