Experimental determination of ionization potentials of tetraphenylporphine and metallotetraphenylporphines

Gas-phase ionization potentials of tetraphenylporphine and some metallotetraphenylporphines have been determined by the method of photocurrent measurements in nonpolar solvents reported previously 1]. The values obtained range from 5.9 to 6.3 eV, depending on the central metal ion, correlating well with the reported polarographic oxidation potentials. It has been concluded that photoelectron ejection from these complexes in isooctane occurs from the porphyrin π-system in all cases including Co(II) tetraphenylporphine, in which the electron is thought to be removed from the metal in polar solvents.