Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of metal-free and metallophthalocyanines bearing electropolymerizable dimethylamine groups

•Synthesis and characterization of peripherally tetrasubstituted metal-free and metallophthalocyanines.•Investigation of electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of phthalocyanines.•Determination of electropolymerization of the complexes.

The synthesis and characterization of novel peripherally-tetra substituted metal-free 4 and metallophthalocyanines 5–7 are described for the first time in this study. All the new compounds are characterized by a combination of IR, 1H and 13C NMR, mass and UV–vis spectroscopy techniques. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of metal-free, nickel(II), cobalt(II) and copper(II) phthalocyanines were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry techniques. While all complexes give common reduction processes, they electropolymerized on the working electrode. Applied potentials and type of the metal center of the complexes affect the electropolymerization mechanism. Spectroelectrochemical and electrocolorimetric measurements exhibit that electrogenerated anionic species of the complexes have distinct color differences which are desire factors for electrochromic application of the complexes.

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