A new ferrocenyl-triazine Schiff base as a novel precursor for selective preparation of iron oxide nanostructures

The new Schiff base (E)-4-((2-ferrocenylidene)amino)-6-methyl-3-thioxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5(2H)-one (Fts) has been synthesized and characterized. Solventless thermolysis of Fts at various temperatures in air led to the formation of pure, ferromagnetic α-Fe2O3 nanostructures. [Display omitted] •New ferrocenyl Schiff base based on 1,2,4-triazine was synthesized and characterized.•Thermal decomposition of ferrocenyl Schiff base led to the formation of pure hematite nanostructures.•The synthesized hematites exhibit ferromagnetic behavior. The reaction of ferrocene 2-carboxaldehyde with 4-Amino-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazine-3-thione-5-one (AMTTO) in a molar ratio 1:1 in dry ethanol led to the formation of (E)-4-((2-ferrocenylidene)amino)-6-methyl-3-thioxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5(2H)-one Schiff base (FTS). FTS has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR-, 1H NMR-spectroscopy and mass spectrometry as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical potential of FTS has also been studied. Solventless thermolysis of FTS at 540, 600 and 900°C in air led to the formation of α-Fe2O3 nanostructures. The resulting hematites were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Magnetic properties of the products from solventless thermolysis of FTS were investigated using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM).