The synthesis, cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical studies of Co(II) phthalocyanines tetra-substituted at the α and β positions with phenylthio groups

Non-peripherally substituted cobalt 1,(4)-(tetraphenylthiophthalocyaninato) and peripherally substituted cobalt 2,(3)-(tetraphenylthiophthalocyaninato) complexes were synthesized. Redox processes were observed at E1/2 = −1.44 V (I), −0.39 V (II), +0.37 V (III), +0.78 V (IV) and 1.15 V (V) for the non-peripherally substituted and at E1/2 = −1.42 V (I), −0.57, −0.39 V (II), +0.27 V (III), +0.79 V (IV) and +1.10 V (V) for the peripherally substituted complexes, respectively. The couples were assigned to CoIPc−2/CoIPc−3 (I), CoIIPc−2/CoIPc−2 (II), CoIIIPc−2/CoIIPc−2 (III), and CoIIIPc−1/CoIIIPc−2 (IV) using spectroelectrochemistry. The last process (V) could not be ascertained by spectroelectrochemistry but is associated with ring oxidation. Upon reduction or oxidation, the Q band of the non-peripherally substituted complex became less red shifted compared to that of its peripherally substituted counterpart.