Metal derivatives of the octacationic tetrakis-2,3-[5,6-di{2-(N-methyl)pyridiniumyl}pyrazino]porphyrazine macrocycle [(2-Mepy)(8)TPyzPzH(2)](8+) (2-Mepy = 2-(N-methyl)pyridiniumyl ring) isolated as water-soluble hydrated iodide salts of the general formula [(2-Mepy)(8)TPyzPzM](I(8)).xH(2)O, (M = Mg(II)(H(2)O), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II); x = 2-5) were prepared from the corresponding neutral complexes [Py(8)TPyzPzM].xH(2)O previously reported. Reaction of these complexes with CH(3)I in N,N-dimethylformamide under mild conditions led to full quaternization of all eight pyridine N atoms and formation of the octacations [(2-Mepy)(8)TPyzPzM](8+). Clathrated water molecules could be eliminated from the species [(2-Mepy)(8)TPyzPzM](I(8)).xH(2)O by mild heating ( Co(I) process, but the site of electron transfer is reversed and the final product upon a further one-electron reduction is formulated as a Co(II) dianion as opposed to a Co(I) pi-anion radical. This sequence is similar to what was earlier reported for reduction of the same compound in pyridine. Reversible one-electron oxidations are also observed for the unmethylated species [Py(8)TPyzPzM].xH(2)O where M = Co(II) and Mn(II) in DMSO. Remarkably, the octacationic macrocycles [(2-Mepy)(8)TPyzPzM](I(8)).xH(2)O, (M = Mg(II)(H(2)O), Co(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II); x = 2-5) are more easily reduced at any step of the reduction than the corresponding unquaternized species with the same metal ion. This indicates a higher tendency to stepwise electron uptake after the quaternization process, which enhances the charge redistribution capability within the species formed by the ele...

Tetrakis-2,3-[5,6-di-(2-pyridyl)pyrazino]porphyrazinatopalladium(II) [Py 8TPyzPzPd] ( 1) and the corresponding pentapalladated species [(PdCl 2) 4Py 8TPyzPzPd] ( 2), dissolved (c approximately 10 (-5)-10 (-6) M) in preacidified dimethylformamide ([HCl] approximately 10 (-4) M), behave as potent photosensitizing agents for the production of singlet oxygen, (1)O 2, with Phi Delta values of 0.89 +/- 0.04 and 0.78 +/- 0.05, respectively. The related octacation [(2-Mepy) 8TPyzPzPd] (8+) ( 3), examined under similar experimental conditions, exhibits lower Phi Delta values, that is, 0.29 +/- 0.02 (as an iodide salt) and 0.32 +/- 0.02 (as a chloride salt). In view of the very high values of Phi Delta, the photophysics of complexes 1 and 2 has been studied by means of pump and probe experiments using ns laser pulses at 532 nm as excitation source. Both complexes behave like reverse saturable absorbers at 440 nm because of triplet excited-state absorption. The lifetimes of the triplet excited states are 65 and 96 ns for the penta- and mononuclear species, respectively. Fluorescence quantum yields (Phi f) are approximately 0.1% for both 1 and 2. Such low Phi f values for the two complexes are consistent with the high efficiency of triplet excited-state formation and the measured high yields of (1)O 2. Time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) calculations of the lowest singlet and triplet excited states of the mono- and pentapalladated species help to rationalize the photophysical behavior and the relevant activity of the complexes as photosensitizers for the (1)O 2 ( (1)Delta g) generation.