One-pot Synthesis and Characterization of 1,10-dimethylphenanthrolinium Sulphate Derivative

Abstract

A new 1,10-dimethylphenanthrolinium sulphate ionic liquid synthesis was accomplished in a one-pot procedure in a three-neck flask using symmetrical 1,10-phenanthroline (PHEN) derivative. The synthesis involves the alkylation of PHEN, followed by sulphonation and acetylation to yield the desired product. Comprehensive characterization was carried out using techniques such as Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), to confirm the purity, functional group and the structure of the compound. The infrared spectral studies using a FTIR spectroscopic technique revealed absorption bands 3534, 1644, and 1226 cm^-1 which correlates to quartenized nitrogen (NR₄⁺), a carbonyl (R-C=O) and an asymmetric sulfone in the synthesized compound. ¹HNMR analysis provided important signals at 4.39 ppm assigned to -N⁺(C)C), a three proton singlet peak at 2.16 ppm assigned to -C(=O)O and another single proton doublet peak at 10.06 ppm assigned to -S(=O)(=O)-R. The ¹³C NMR spectra exhibited four distinct signals in addition to all expected signals for the carbons. These signals include; a triplet carbon at 144 ppm assigned to –S(=O)(=O)-R, a singlet carbon showing peak at 175.4 ppm indicating –C=O of an acetyl, singlet carbons showing peaks at 50.9 ppm and 19.3 ppm indicating two aliphatic carbons respectively which confirms the synthesis of a new compound. The synthesized phenanthroline derivatives opens new channels of research for the discovery of more important derivatives with novel functionalities and applications.