A series of nickel N-methyl-pyridylethynylporphines were synthesized and their electrochemical and absorption properties were studied. UV-visible spectra of these complexes show that the absorption red-shifts of the nickel porphyrins are as significant as the zinc analogues. Although the reduction potential shifts caused by the electron-withdrawing substituents are not as large as the zinc complexes, the first reduction potentials of the nickel porphyrins are more positive than those of the zinc counterparts. In addition, the redox behaviors of these nickel porphyrins are similar to those of the zinc analogues.
A new series of electron-deficient porphyrins were prepared by attaching one or two N-methylated 2-, 3- or 4-pyridylethynyl groups to the 10,20-meso positions of (5,15-biphenylporphinato)zinc(II). Electrochemical studies showed significant changes in the reduction potentials of these porphyrins, and N-methyl-2-pyridylethyne is the strongest electron-withdrawing substituent in the series. UV-visible spectra demonstrated largely red-shifted absorptions, and N-methyl-4-pyridylethyne has the greatest impact to the porphyrin absorptions. Electrochemical, UV-visible and EPR results concluded that porphyrins Zn2 and Zn6 reversibly undergo two one-electron porphyrin-ring reductions to their anion radicals then dianions. The first reductions of porphyrins Zn1, Zn3, Zn4 and Zn5 were irreversible one-electron transfer processes. The instability of these reduction products was suggested to result from the eletrophilic attacks at the substituents.
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