Synthesis, spectroscopic, structural characterizations, and catalytic properties of cyanide-bridged heteronuclear metal organic frameworks with imidazole

Three new cyanide-bridged metal complexes of the general formula [Cu2(μ-im)2(im)4M(μ-CN)4]n (where M ​= ​Ni(II) for 1, Pd(II) for 2, and Pt(II) for 3; im: imidazole) have been synthesized. All 1–3 were investigated using different and properly chosen physicochemical methods: Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopies (R), thermal analysis (TG, DTG, DTA), powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (PXRD and SC-XRD). The polymeric structures of all complexes crystalize in the same triclinic P-1 space group. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method was used for the surface area analysis. The average particle size and morphology were estimated by scanning and transmission electron microscope (SEM and TEM). The heterogeneous catalytic activity of complex 2 catalysts was evaluated on the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction between selected aryl halides and phenyboronic acid. Complex 2 exhibits moderate to high heterogeneous catalyst activity for the Suzuki C–C coupling reaction in an organic/water solvent environment.