Rare-earth, nitrogen-rich, oxygen heterocyclic supramolecular compounds (Nd, Sm, and Eu): Synthesis, structure, and catalysis for ammonium perchlorate

Three novel rare-earth, nitrogen-rich and oxygen heterocyclic supramolecular complexes, namely [Nd (BTF)2(H2O)5]n, [Sm(BTF)2(H2O)5]n, and [Eu(BTF)2(H2O)5]n, were synthesized. A single crystal was obtained by the solvent evaporation method, and the structure and coordination mode of metal complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Results show that the supramolecular complexes contain many hydrogen bonds and thus have good thermal stability (Tdec > 540 K). The thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) catalyzed by the complexes was investigated by differential thermal analysis, which reveals a pre-eminent catalytic effect on AP. The high temperature decomposition peak of AP can be advanced by nearly 90 K at the amount of added complexes of 10 wt%, and the activation energy of AP descent range is from 70 to 150 kJ/mol. The other properties were fully characterized through elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.