Ferrocene and [3]ferrocenophane-based β-diketonato copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes: synthesis, crystal structure, electrochemistry and catalytic effect on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Ferrocene and [3]ferrocenophane-based β-diketones and their Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the molecular structures of the Cu(II) complexes. UV-vis spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements were obtained. All the new compounds showed quasireversible and diffusion-controlled redox processes. The complexes displayed high thermal stability according to the thermogravimetry (TG) measurements. The β-diketone ligands and complexes exhibited high catalytic effects on the thermal degradation of ammonium perchlorate (AP) which was evaluated by TG and differential scanning calorimetry techniques, whereas the addition of Cu(II) complexes lowered the thermal decomposition temperature of AP more dramatically and released more heat compared with the addition of β-diketone ligands or Zn(II) complexes. We expect that this kind of transition metal complexes containing ferrocenyl would has great value in preparing a high burning rate catalyst for composite solid propellants.