Comparison of the photochemical properties of phthalocyanine and hemiporphyrazine Zn(II) complexes
In DMF (dimethylformamide) solutions containing concentrations of (NEt 4 )Br (Et = ethyl) between 0.001 and 0.05 M both zinc phthalocyanine (Pc) and hemiporphyrazine (Hp) complexes are dissolved and form species [Zn(Hp)(Br)] – , and [Zn(Pc)(Br)] – . The increase in formation of the hemiporphyrazine bromide adduct is revealed by a linear dependence of the UV–Vis absorption spectrum on the Br – concentration whereas, over the same concentration range, absorption measurements indicate the formation of the phthalocyanine bromide adduct in solution. The x-ray and molecular structure of [NEt 4 ][Zn(Pc)(Br)](H 2 O) 0.33 has been determined showing the coordination of the Br – to the metal center. Photo-induced processes of the Zn complexes were investigated with deaerated solutions in a time scale t ≥10 ns. The 355 nm flash irradiation of [Zn(Hp)(Br)] – produced transient spectra which showed a bathochromic shift of the absorption maximum from 460 nm to 440 nm and an increase of the spectrum rate of decay with increasing Br – concentrations. The initial spectrum is attributed to the (nπ*–LLCT Br→Hp )[Zn(Hp)(Br)] – excited state which reacts with H-atom donors forming a radical [Zn(Hp-H)(Br)] •– . On the other hand, a transient spectrum, λ max ~600 nm, grows in a time t ≤0.6 µs when [Zn(Pc)(Br)] – is flash irradiated at 355 nm. The photoreactions of these complexes with SCN – and 2-propanol (IPA) were studied. Despite of the apparent similarity between both complexes, IPA was photo-oxidized by both complexes although by different mechanisms, an electron transfer with [Zn(Pc)(Br)] – and an H atom abstraction with [Zn(Hp)(Br)] – . Finally, the photo-oxidation of SCN– by [Zn(Pc)(Br)] – but not by [Zn(Hp)(Br)] – makes a remarkable difference between the photochemistries of these complexes.