The study on catalytic activity of complex materials has been one of the hot spots in coordination chemistry. In order to extensively study the catalytic activity of complexes, a new six-coordination Zn(II) complex material, [ZnL2(H2O)2] (C1) (HL = 5-bromosalicylaldehyde), has been prepared with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde, NaOH, and Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O as raw materials. The structure of C1 was determined by elemental analysis, IR spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Zn(II) complex shows a moderate catalytic activity for A 3 coupling reaction of benzaldehyde, piperidine, and phenylacetylene with the benzaldehyde conversion reached 54.6 %. Furthermore, the Zn(II) complex catalyst exhibited 54.8 %, 53.8 %, and 54.4 % conversions of benzaldehyde in the second, third, and fourth cycles, respectively. In addition, the Zn(II) complex features a selectivity of 100 % to the product of propargylamine for the A 3 coupling reaction.

Metal-organic complex hybrid materials constructed from carboxylate ligands and hydrazone ligands have exhibited potential application in many fields. In order to enrich the applications of the metaiorganic complex materials, a new hydrazone ligand contains carboxylate group, 2-carboxybenzaldehyde-p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazone (L1), and its Cu(II) complex (C2), have been prepared. The structure of L1 was determined by elemental analysis, IR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction, and the composition of Cu(II) complex (C2) has also been determined by elemental analysis, IR and UV spectra. The catalytic activity for A 3 coupling reaction of benzaldehyde, piperidine, and phenylacetylene has been investigated. The results show that Cu(II) complex displays a 100 % selectivity to the product of propargylamine during A 3 coupling reaction and benzaldehyde conversions were 95.3, 94.2, and 93.4 % at 120 °C for 12 h in the first, second, and third reaction cycles, respectively.