Easy methods for the electropolymerization of porphyrins based on the oxidation of the macrocycles

Two different methods of electropolymerization of porphyrins have been investigated and compared. They consist in the nucleophilic attack of Lewis bases onto electrogenerated dications of octaethylporphyrins. In the first method, a nucleophilic group has been directly grafted onto the macrocycle (ZnOEP-meso-bpy+), while in the second one, free di-nucleophilic compounds (Nu–Nu) have been used in presence of a non-substituted porphyrin (ZnOEP). The advantage of the second method is to easily modify the nature of the bridging spacer between the macrocycles. Characterizations of the polymer obtained from the second method in the case of dipyridinium-tetrazine spacer are presented.