Design and synthesis of magnesium (II) and zinc (II) beta-ketoiminate complexes: Applications in materials science and catalysis

A range of beta-ketoimines free ligands have been synthesized via the direct combination of acetyl acetone with various primary amines in a 1:1 molar ratio. The isolated products were purified and characterized by GC/MS, 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR AND FT-IR spectroscopy. The beta-ketoimines were converted to their corresponding magnesium (II) and zinc (II) complexes. The complexes have been characterized 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR AND FT-IR spectroscopy and their structures determined by single X-Ray diffraction methods. Their volatilities have been investigated via thermogravimetric analysis. Chemical vapor deposition experiments were performed using these precursors at temperatures of 375--500 °C. ZnO thin films were successfully grown on SiO2 wafers using Argon as a carrier gas. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) images were taken to reveal the morphology of the surface of the films while XRD methods were utilized to determine the intrinsic packing of the deposited thin films and XPS methods were used to evaluate the thin film composition.