Electrocatalytic activity of arylthio tetra-substituted oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanines towards the oxidation of nitrite

This paper investigates the catalytic activities of arylthio substituted oxotitanium phthalocyanine (OTiPc) complexes that are immobilized on the glassy carbon electrode by electropolymerization, towards the oxidation of nitrite. The complexes are peripherally and non-peripherally substituted with phenylthio and benzylthio groups, namely 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b. All the modified electrodes exhibited improved electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite than the unmodified electrodes by a two-electron mechanism producing nitrate ions. Catalytic currents are enhanced and nitrite overpotential reduced to ∼0.60 V. Kinetic parameters are determined for all complexes and a mechanism is proposed.