β-Nitro-substituted free-base, iron(III) and manganese(III) tetraarylporphyrins: synthesis, electrochemistry and effect of the NO 2substituent on spectra and redox potentials in non-aqueous media

Two free-base and four metal derivatives of substituted tetraarylporphyrins containing a nitro-substituent on the β-pyrrole position of the macrocycle were synthesized and characterized by UV-vis, FTIR,1H NMR and mass spectrometry as well as electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in non-aqueous media. The porphyrins are represented as ( NO2TmPP ) M and ( NO2TdmPP ) M , where M = 2 H , FeIIICl or MnIIICl , m is a CH3group on the para-position of the four meso-phenyl rings of the tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and dm represents two OCH3substituents on the meta-positions of each phenyl ring of the TPP macrocycle. UV-visible spectra of the nitro-substituted porphyrins exhibit absorption bands which are red-shifted by 4–11 nm as compared to bands of the same substituted tetraarylporphyrins lacking a nitro substituent. Three or four reductions are observed for each iron and manganese nitroporphyrin, the first of which is metal-centered, leading to formation of an Fe ( II ) or Mn ( II ) complex. Further reduction at the metal center occurs for the iron porphyrins but this reaction proceeds via an Fe ( II ) π anion radical in the case of the two nitro-substituented derivatives. The β-nitro-substituted porphyrins are easier to reduce and harder to oxidize than the corresponding compounds lacking a nitro group. The effect of NO2substituent on reduction/oxidation potentials and the site of electron transfer was also discussed.