Phthalocyanines and related macrocycles for multi-electron transfer in catalysis,photochemistry and photoelectrochemistry

At different phthalocyanines and related macrocycles it is shown that one-step, multi-electron transfer and one-step, multi-change of oxidation states occur. At first, the catalytic oxidations of thiols and sulfide in the presence of different Co(II)phthalocyanines are discussed. Thiolates are oxidized to disulfides via a two-electron transfer whereas the reduction of O₂ occurs via a two- or four-electron transfer to H₂O₂ or H₂O. Zn(II) and Al(III)phthalocyanines are efficient sensitizers for the conversion of triplet to singlet dioxygen under illumination with visible light. In the presence of thiolates or sulfides an efficient photo-oxidation to sulfonic acids or sulfate is observed. The oxidation state of sulfur changes from ?2 to +4 or +6, respectively. This process of singlet oxygen reactions finds application in the photodynamic therapy of cancer. The unsubstituted zinc(II)-phthalocyanine as p-type molecular semiconductor can efficienfly reduce O₂ in photoelectrochemical experiments whereas zinc(II)phthalocyanines with electronwithdrawing groups as n-type conductors are active in the photoelectrochemical oxidation of thiols. All processes include multi-electron transfer. The electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ is investigated at electrodes modified with Co(II)phthalocyanine. In particular, the phthalocyanine in a polyvinylpyridine membrane is active, so the CO₂ is reduced to CO by multi-electron transfer. In addition, two photon excitations of a Mg(II)phthalocyanine are presented and some examples are reviewed.