Titanium-based tetrakis-2,3-[5,6-di(substituted)pyrazino]porphyrazine: synthesis and characterization

Tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine (TPysPz) ligands and metal complexes find, generally, application as electronic materials and catalysts. Considering the limited application of Titanium (Ti), we prepared and characterized a family of ligands and Ti-based complexes of tetrakis-2,3-[5,6-di-R-8-pyrazino]porphyrazine (R = H, 2-Py, Ph). UV/Vis measurements in different solvents confirm molecular aggregation, which results more pronounced in the presence of 2-pyridil and phenyl substituents on the macrocycle edge. Because of low solubility, solid state NMR was applied for structure characterization. Additional IR and MALDI-TOF were carried out to complete the characterization. Cyclic voltammetry in DMSO/Bu₄NBF₄ 0.1 M unveiled that our Ti complexes can take part in up to five redox events. The first two quasi-reversible reductions involve Ti(IV), whereas the further two or three occur at the expense of the TPysPz macrocycle. To test the applicability of our compounds as catalytic materials, we performed a preliminary cyclic voltammetry investigation in the solid-state, which showed typical peaks of hydrogen redox reactions.