Solvent-free CO2 cycloaddition by one- and two-dimensional sodium coordination polymers based on hydrazonic ligands

We successfully synthesized and characterized four new coordination polymers of sodium: sodium 4-hydroxy-3-{[2-(pyridine-4-carbonyl)hydrazinylidene]methyl}benzene-1-sulfonate (NaL4-Py), sodium 3-[(2-benzoylhydrazinylidene)methyl]-4-hydroxybenzene-1-sulfonate (NaLPh), sodium 3-[(2-acetylhydrazinylidene)methyl]-4-hydroxybenzene-1-sulfonate (NaLMe), and sodium 3-[(2-carbamoylhydrazinylidene)methyl]-4-hydroxybenzene-1-sulfonate (NaLNH2). These polymers were synthesized through a 1:1 condensation reaction of hydrazide derivatives with sodium salicylaldehyde-5-sulfonate monohydrate (NaSalSO3) and were thoroughly characterized using various analytical techniques. The compounds NaLMe and NaLPh, crystallized in the P 1‾ and P21/n space groups, respectively, forming one-dimensional polymers. On the other hand, NaLNH2 and NaL4-Py crystallized in the Cmca and P 1‾ space groups, respectively, forming two-dimensional coordination polymers. The coordination environment of the sodium cation differed among the compounds, with the imine nitrogen atom interfering in NaL4-Py and NaLPh. The sulfonate group exhibited various coordination modes, resulting in the different dimensionalities of the polymers. Compounds NaL4-Py and NaLPh acted as heterogeneous Lewis acid catalysts for the solvent-free cycloaddition reaction of epichlorohydrine and CO2 into valued cyclic carbonate. High selective conversion (68 %) of epichlorohydrin to cyclic carbonate was obtained at mild conditions, 60 °C and 1 bar CO2, after 24 h of reaction. The role of substituents in obtaining different structures, geometry and coordination polymers was investigated. Synthesis, characterization, X-ray crystal structures and stability of four 1D and 2D coordination polymers of sodium were reported. The catalytic activity of the prepared heterogeneous synthesized polymers was investigated. [Display omitted] •Four coordination polymers of sodium cation synthesized and characterized.•Coordination modes of the sulfonate change dimensionality of the polymers.•The nature of substituents affects dimensionality of the complexes.•Prediction of sodium complexes with hydrazonic ligands is tough.•Coordination polymers exhibited catalytic activity for the CO2 cycloaddition.