Synthesis and characterization of novel metal-free phthalocyanines containing four cylindrical or spherical macrotricyclic moieties

The novel metal-free phthalocyanines 8 and 9 bearing four peripheral tetraaza-dithiahexaoxa cylindrical or spherical macrotricycles have been synthesized by tricyclo-tetramerization of isoindolinediimine derivatives of supercryptands 6 and 7 and were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR, MS and UV-vis spectral data.     

Selective oxygenation of ring-substituted toluenes with electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents by molecular oxygen via photoinduced electron transfer

A ring-substituted toluene with an electron-withdrawing substituent, p-tolunitrile, is oxygenated by molecular oxygen to yield the corresponding aldehyde with tetrafluoro-p-dicyanobenzene as a photocatalyst under photoirradiation with an Hg lamp (lambda > 300 nm). The oxygenation of a ring-substituted toluene with an electron-donating substituent, p-xylene, by molecular oxygen is also achieved with 10-methyl-9-phenylacridinium ion as a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation, yielding p-tolualdehyde exclusively as the final oxygenated product. Both the oxygenation reactions are initiated by photoinduced electron transfer from the ring-substituted toluene to the singlet excited state of the photocatalyst. The reason for the high selectivity in the photocatalytic oxygenation of various toluene derivatives by molecular oxygen is discussed on the basis of the photoinduced electron transfer mechanism that does not involve the autoxidation process (radical chain reactions). The reactive intermediates in the photocatalytic cycle are successfully detected as the transient absorption spectra and the electron spin resonance spectra.     

Synthesis and self-assembly of phthalocyanines bearing sulfur-containing substituents简

Asymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines with sulfur-containing substituents for fabrication of selfassembled monolayers were synthesized. Phthalocyanine 7, bearing a disulfide group, was synthesized from phthalocyanine with a hydroxyl group, which was prepared via mixed condensation of the corresponding substituted phthalonitriles. Phthalocyanine 10, bearing an acetyl protected thiol group, was synthesized through the Pd-catalyzed coupling reaction of an iodophthalocyanine. Their selfassembling behavior on gold substrates was further studied by UV–vis spectroscopy.     

Synthesis,spectroscopy, electrochemistry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of partly halogenated coumarin phthalonitrile and corresponding metal-free,cobalt and zinc phthalocyanines

In this study, the preparation of novel 7-hydroxy-3-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)coumarin (1), the ligand, 7-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)-3-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)coumarin (2), metal-free phthalocyanine 3 and metallophthalocyanine complexes 4 and 5 (MPcs, M = Co, Zn), β-substituted with 7-oxo-3-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)coumarin functional group was achieved. By the reaction of 7-hydroxy-3-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)coumarin (1) with 1,2-dicyano-4-nitrobenzen in dry DMF as the solvent in the presence of K₂CO₃ as the base, the 7-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)-3-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)coumarin (2) was synthesized. Compound 2 reacted with Co(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O in 2-N,N-dimethylaminoethanol to furnish a novel coumarin containing cobalt(II) phthalocyanine 4. The cyclotetramerization of 2 with Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O in 2-N,N-dimethylaminoethanol gave the novel coumarin containing Zn(II)phthalocyanine 5; while tetramerization without any metal salts in 2-N,N-dimethylaminoethanol gave the metal-free phthalocyanine 3. The structures of obtained compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, UV–Vis, IR, MALDI-TOF mass and ¹H NMR spectra. The cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of 7-oxo-3-(2-chloro-4-fuorophenyl)coumarin substituted phthalocyanines 3, 4 and 5 allowed us to identify metal- and phthalocyanine ring-based redox processes of the complexes.     

Synthesis and electrochemistry of new octa-substituted metal-free and metallophthalocyanines

The synthesis and characterization of metal-free (H₂-Pc) and metal-containing (Zn, Co, and Cu) derivatives of a symmetrically octa-substituted phthalocyanine derived from 4,5-bis[2-(phenylthio)ethoxy]phthalonitrile were carried out by microwave irradiation. The electrochemical properties of the metal-free phthalocyanine 4 and metallophthalocyanine complexes 5 and 6 were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. We have previously investigated the electrochemical properties of the tetra substituted 2-(phenylthio)ethoxy phthalocyanines. The reduction potential of the octa-substituted metal-free phthalocyanine shifted to more negative potential as a result of the electron donating of the 2-(phenylthio)ethoxy groups on the periphery compared to those of tetra substituted. The H₂Pc and ZnPc demonstrated ligand-based electron transfer processes, while CoPc complex has a metal-based reduction process. Similar aggregation behavior was observed for octa-substituted phthalocyanines. The compounds were characterized using IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, and MS spectral data.     

Synthesis,electrochemistry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of water-soluble phthalocyanines

The synthesis, characterization and voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical properties of newly synthesized metal-free and metallo phthalocyanines (M = Co, Cu, Zn) containing four dialkylaminophenoxy or trialkylammoniumphenoxy substituents on peripheral positions have been presented in this work. The new compounds have been characterized by using elemental analysis, UV–Vis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and MS spectroscopic data. Phthalocyanines with trialkylammoniumphenoxy substituents are soluble in aqueous solution over a wide pH range, and these compounds are present as aggregated species in solution as confirmed by the blue shift of Q-bands in their electronic spectra. The electrochemical behavior of the phthalocyanines was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry on a platinum-working electrode in DCM and DMSO. The voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical measurements of the complexes show that while cobalt phthalocyanine gives both ligand- and metal-based redox processes, metal-free, zinc and copper phthalocyanine complexes give only ligand-based processes in harmony with common phthalocyanine complexes.     

The self-ordering properties of novel phthalocyanines with out-of-plane alkyl substituents

Two novel homologous series of phthalocyanines were prepared from 2,2-dialkylindane and 2,2-dialkyl-1,3-benzodioxole precursors. It was anticipated that attaching alkyl chains to five-membered rings, fused to the peripheral sites of the phthalocyanine ring, would result in the adoption of an out-of-plane configuration and thereby discourage cofacial aggregation, to provide an analogy with picket-fence porphyrins. This strategy proved partially successful. Some members of the series of phthalocyanines derived from 2,2-dialkyl-1,3-benzodioxoles, in which the alkyl chains are linked to the phthalocyanine via a cyclic ketal, form spin-coated thin films in which the phthalocyanine cores are perfectly isolated. This behaviour is associated with the formation of a disordered crystal that appears as a mesophase in the thermal profile of these materials. However, the phthalocyanines derived from 2,2-dialkylindanes display a columnar mesophase over a wide temperature range, with some liquid crystalline derivatives at ambient temperature. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of the octahexyl derivative of this series shows how the columnar assembly accommodates the out-of-plane alkyl chains by tilting the macrocyclic plane of the phthalocyanine components with respect to the axis of the column. This study helps to emphasise the importance of both the steric and electronic effects of substituents on the packing behaviour of phthalocyanines in the condensed phase, and especially the role of electron-donating oxygen atoms directly attached to the ring.     

Synthesis,characterization and electrochemistry of a new organosoluble metal-free and metallophthalocyanines

4-[2-(Phenylthio)ethoxy]phthalonitrile 3 was synthesized by nucleophilic displacement of nitro group in 4-nitrophthalonitrile with 2-(phenylthio)ethanol 1. The metal-free phthalocyanine 4 was prepared by the reaction of a dinitrile monomer with 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol. Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(I) phthalocyanines 5, 7, 8 were prepared by reaction of the dinitrile compound with the chlorides of Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(I) in DMAE. Zn(II) phthalocyanine 6, was prepared by reaction of the dinitrile compound with the acetates of Zn(II) in DMAE. Electrochemical behaviours of novel metal-free, Co(II) and Zn(II) phthalocyanines were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, potential differential pulse voltammetry techniques. The new compounds were characterized by a combination of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV–Vis, elemental analysis and MS spectral data.     

Study of the influence of substituents on spectroscopic and photoelectric properties of zinc phthalocyanines

In this paper we describe conversion of light energy into electric energy in a photoelectrochemical cell containing zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) dyes. For all dyes investigated in liquid polyvinyl alcohol with dimethyl sulfoxide solution and located in the photoelectrochemical cell the following measurements have been done: absorption, fluorescence, photoacoustic spectra, photovoltaic spectra, kinetics of photocurrent and current–voltage characteristics. It has been shown that all dyes located in the photoelectrochemical cell are able to convert light into electric energy but with different effectiveness. The influence of substituted different peripheral groups to ZnPc core and the correlation between the molecular structure and effectiveness of solar to electric energy conversion were observed and described. The unique behavior of ZnPc substituted with fluorines was indicated.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel unsymmetrical metal-free phthalocyanine with donor-acceptor substituents

A novel unsymmetrical metal-free phthalocyanine with a nitro group as an acceptor substituent and three t-butyl groups as donor groups, namely nitro-tri-t-butylphthalocyanine (NtBuPc) was synthesized for the first time by mixed condensation of two corresponding diiminoisoindolines. The NtBuPc can be separated by common column chromatography on silica gel using chloroform-hexane as the elution solvent. The structure was confirmed by elemental analysis, nmr, uv-vis, ir and mass spectroscopy. No contamination of either symmetrical or other related phthalocyanines was observed.     

Effect of peripheral substitution on the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of metal-free and zinc phthalocyanines

The effect of substituents on the position and intensity of the electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra of phthalocyanines (Pcs) was examined for 35 Pc compounds. When electron-releasing groups are bound to four alpha-benzo positions of the Pc skeleton, the B and Q bands shift to longer wavelength. Relative to this shift, the effect of introducing the same electron-releasing groups at the other four alpha positions amounts to about 1.6-2.0. Although the effect is not always clearly seen, introduction of electron-releasing groups in the beta-benzo positions of the Pc skeleton generally shifts the Q band to shorter wavelength. The effect of electron-withdrawing groups is exactly the opposite with respect to the alpha and beta positions. These effects can be reasonably explained by considering the magnitude of the atomic orbital coefficients of the carbon atoms derived from molecular orbital (MO) calculations. In addition, the following intriguing phenomena were observed in the experiments, although not all were explained theoretically: 1) the splitting of the Q band of metal-free Pcs decreases with increasing wavelength of the Q band, 2) the ring currents of Pcs with Q bands at longer wavelength are generally smaller, and 3) the absorption coefficients of the Q band of Pc compounds with 16-electron-releasing substituents are larger than those of the corresponding tetra- and octasubstituted Pcs by several tens of percent. 4) Our PPP calculations suggested that the absorption coefficient of the Q band of Pcs with more strongly electron releasing substituents is larger. 5) The second HOMO of the Pcs with the Q band at longer wavelength has b(1u) symmetry, as opposed to the a(2u) symmetry of normal Pcs. 6) Pcs showing S1 emission maxima at wavelengths longer than about 740 nm generally have quantum yields of less than 0.1.     

Elongation of the pi-system of phthalocyanines by introduction of thienyl substituents at the peripheral beta positions. Synthesis and characterization

1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octabutoxyphthalocyanines ((OBu)8Pcs) having eight 2-thienyl (1) and [2,2'-bithiophene]-5-yl (2) groups at beta positions and their zinc(II) and cobalt(II) derivatives were prepared from 2-thienyl- (3) or [2,2'-bithiophene]-5-yl (4)-substituted phthalonitriles in moderate to good yields. The electronic absorption spectra of the Pcs showed red-shifted Q-bands relative to beta-unsubstituted (OBu)8Pcs. The longer substituent, the [2,2'-bithiophene]-5-yl group, is more effective than the 2-thienyl group in enlarging the pi-conjugated system of the Pcs. The ring oxidation potential obtained by cyclic voltammetry shifted cathodically with increasing chain length, indicating destabilization of the HOMOs. Due to the shift of the Q-band, 2-thienyl- and [2,2'-bithiophene]-5-yl-substituted Pcs exhibit a remarkable color change from the original green color.     

Thermal oxidative destruction of cobalt(II)phthalocyanines with oxygen containing substituents

Summary The complexes of the type [M(HDMBG)Cl₃] ((1) M:Co; (2) M:Zn;) and [M(DMBG)Cl₂] ((3) M:Pd; (4) M:Pt; DMBG: N,N-dimethylbiguanide) present in vitro antimicrobial activity. The modification evidenced in IR and 1H NMR spectra (in the case of complex (2)) was correlated with the presence of N,N-dimethylbiguanide ion as unidentate, coordinated through N³ and of N,N-dimethylbiguanide as chelate, coordinated through N¹ and N⁴ respectively. The electronic reflectance spectrum showed the d-d transition for complex (1) characteristic for the tetrahedral surrounding while the spectra for complexes (3) and (4) have the characteristic pattern for square-planar stereochemistry. The cyclic voltammetric data show the characteristic waves for mononuclear complexes of the metallic ions presented below. The thermal analysis has evidenced the thermal intervals of stability and also the thermodynamics effects that accompany them. The different nature of the ligands generates a different thermal behaviour for complexes.     

The synthesis of metal-free octaazaphthalocyanine derivatives containing bulky phenoxy substituents to prevent self-association

Octaazaphthalocyanines with eight phenoxy groups in the peripheral sites are prepared for the first time using the simple synthetic procedure of heating their pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile precursor in quinoline. This process avoids transetherification, which has hindered previous attempts at preparing metal-free octaazaphthalocyanines. Metal-containing derivatives were also prepared by adding the appropriate metal salt to the reaction mixture. Bulky iso-propyl or phenyl groups at the 2,6-positions of the phenoxy substituents prevent self-association of the octaazaphthalocyanine cores even in the solid state.     

Modeling the interactions of phthalocyanines in water: from the Cu(II)-tetrasulphonate to the metal-free phthalocyanine

A quantum and statistical study on the effects of the ions Cu(2+) and SO(3)(-) in the solvent structure around the metal-free phthalocyanine (H(2)Pc) is presented. We developed an ab initio interaction potential for the system CuPc-H(2)O based on quantum chemical calculations and studied its transferability to the H(2)Pc-H(2)O and [CuPc(SO(3))(4)](4-)-H(2)O interactions. The use of the molecular dynamics technique allows the determination of energetic and structural properties of CuPc, H(2)Pc, and [CuPc(SO(3))(4)](4-) in water and the understanding of the keys for the different behaviors of the three phthalocyanine (Pc) derivatives in water. The inclusion of the Cu(2+) cation in the Pc structure reinforces the appearance of two axial water molecules and second-shell water molecules in the solvent structure, whereas the presence of SO(3)(-) anions implies a well defined hydration shell of about eight water molecules around them making the macrocycle soluble in water. Debye-Waller factors for axial water molecules have been obtained in order to examine the potential sensitivity of the extended x-ray absorption fine structure technique to detect the axial water molecules.     

The synthesis and characterization of new metal-free and metallo phthalocyanines substituted with four dithiatetraoxa macrocyclic moieties

New metal-free phthalocyanine (7) fused symmetrically in peripheral positions with four dithiatetraoxa macrocycles, has been synthesized by cyclotetramerization of the isoindolinediimine derivative of macrocyclic 6. Metallophthalocyanine (8) was synthesized by reaction of phthalonitrile derivative (5) with anhydrous nickel(II) chloride. The new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, IR UV–Vis and mass spectroscopies.     

Synthesis,characterization and fluorescence behavior of new fluorescent probe phthalocyanines bearing coumarin substituents

In this study, we report a new ligand, 6-hexyloxy-3-[p-(3′,4′-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl]coumarin, and its fluorescent tetrasubstituted phthalocyanines {M[Pc(OBzCou)₄], M = 2H, Zn(II), Co(II); Bz: Benzene}. The effect of the coumarin derivative on the intensity of the fluorescence spectra of the metal-free (H₂Pc) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) derivatives was investigated. The change of the emission properties of both the coumarin moieties and the phthalocyanine core in the presence of the metal ion and the ring-opening reaction of the coumarin were studied by means of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. The radiative decay of the Pcs and the treated coumarin substituents bound to the Pcs was examined. The novel chromogenic compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Maldi-TOF, IR and UV–Vis spectral data. The photophysical properties of the Pcs are extensively affected by their state of aggregation: in particular, dimerization and aggregation result in a remarkable modification of the absorption and emission bands and may induce significant quenching of the usually strong Pc fluorescence. The electronic spectra exhibit a band of coumarin identity together with characteristic Q and B bands of the phthalocyanine core.     

α- or β-Substituted functional phthalocyanines bearing thiophen-3-ylmethanol substituents: synthesis,characterization, aggregation behavior and antioxidant activity

The tetra α- or β-thiophene substituted metal and metal-free phthalocyanines (Pcs) M[Pc(α-OCH₂Thiopen)₄] and M[Pc(β-OCH₂Thiopen)₄] {(α-ThMet-MPc), (β-ThMet-MPc) [ThMet: Thiophene methoxy], M = Zn(II), Co(II) and, 2H} were synthesized from the corresponding 3’-(thiophen-3-ylmethoxy)phthalonitrile or 4’-(thiophen-3-ylmethoxy)phthalonitrile (ThMePN). The structural characterization, spectral, and antioxidant properties of a series of new Pcs were also presented. Both α- and β-substituted Pc complexes increased solubility in polar solvents, such as THF, DMF, and DMSO. FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, UV–vis, MALDI-TOF/MS spectral, and elemental analysis data were used to characterize the compounds. The aggregation behaviors of 3–8 were also investigated at different concentrations in THF. Antioxidant test methods, α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, and reducing power, were used to determine the antioxidant activities. 6 showed very good ferrous ion chelating activity of 81 ± 1%. 6, 5, 4, and 3 showed better reducing power than trolox, ascorbic, acid and butylated hydroxytoluene, commercially used antioxidants.     

An economical synthesis of dibenzocyclamnickel(II) and a metal-free macrocycle with tetramethyl substituents

The cationic dibenzocyclamnickel(II) complex, [Ni(Me₄Bzo₂[14]aneN₄)]²⁺, was obtained in good yield by Fe/HCl reduction of the corresponding tetraazaannulene complex [Ni(Me₄taa)], (1) {Me₄Bzo₂[14]aneN₄ = 5,7,12,14-tetramethyldibenzo[b,i]-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane; Me₄taa = 5,7,12,14-tetramethyldibenzo[b,i]-1,4,8,11-tetraazaannulene(2-)}. The orange–red product was isolated as the chloride (2) and perchlorate (3) salts. Analogous reduction with Zn/HCl yielded a diprotonated silky-white product [Ni(Me₄Bzo₂[14]aneN₄-H₂)][ZnCl₄]₂, (4). In the dry state, complex (4) is stable only under an HCl atmosphere and readily dissociates to give a solution of (2) when dissolved in polar solvents. Complexes (2) and (3), upon treatment with an excess of aqueous NaCN, undergo facile demetallation yielding the metal free macrocycle Me₄Bzo₂[14]aneN₄, (5). These compounds were characterized using a combination of i.r., u.v.–vis., ¹H-n.m.r., mass spectroscopy and voltammetry techniques. Unlike the parent tetraazaannulene complex (1), the reduced macrocycle complex, [Ni(Me₄Bzo₂[14]aneN₄)]²⁺ exhibits mild catalytic activity towards electro-reduction of CO₂ in MeCN solution.