Catalytic Activity of an Asymmetric Uranyl-Salophen on 2,4-Dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol, and Pentachlorophenol

This study employs density functional theory to investigate whether asymmetric uranyl-Salophen catalyzes the activation of 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol. Changes in various important parameters such as bond lengths, Wiberg bond indices, infrared vibrational absorption spectra, natural charge distributions, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra, and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of the aromatic rings of chlorophenols before and after forming complexes with asymmetric uranyl-Salophen are analyzed. This means that asymmetric uranyl-Salophen indeed activates 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4, 6-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol, significantly lengthening the aromatic ring bonds of the three chlorophenols and increasing the electrophilicity of the carbon atoms in the aromatic ring. This suggests that the conjugated system of the aromatic ring is also partially disrupted, indicating that these three chlorophenols are indeed catalytically activated. Furthermore, this implies that this asymmetric uranyl-Salophen may be used to degrade chlorophenols in water.