Comparative photocatalytic efficiency of oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanines for the oxidation of 1-hexene

Synthesis of zincphthalocyanine-based conjugated microporous polymers with rigid-linker as novel and green heterogeneous photocatalysts

The novel zincphthalocyanine-based conjugated microporous polymers with rigid-linker (α-ZnPc-CMP and β-ZnPc-CMP) were synthesized by copolymerization of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and 4, 6-diaminoresorcinol dihydrochloride (DADHC). The α-ZnPc-CMP and β-ZnPc-CMP were utilized as heterogeneous photocatalysts to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution. It is the first time for MPc-based CMPs used as heterogeneous photocatalysts for photodegradation of RhB to date. The highly ordered skeletal alignment and two-dimensional open-channel structure of α-ZnPc-CMP and β-ZnPc-CMP not only solve the aggregation of ZnPc and enhance its photocatalytic activity, but also facilitate the recycling and avoid the secondary pollution. The chemical structures and morphologies of α-ZnPc-CMP and β-ZnPc-CMP were well characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N₂-sorption/ desorption and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The solubility experiments and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed they have good chemical stability and recyclability. Furthermore, the photocatalytic tests indicated α-ZnPc-CMP and β-ZnPc-CMP have excellent photocatalytic performances for degradation of RhB (3 h, degraded 98 and 97.47%) in the presence of H₂O₂ under visible-light irradiation. All results reveal that α-ZnPc-CMP and β-ZnPc-CMP have great potential as photocatalysts on the degradation of organic dye contaminants. Moreover, the possible reaction mechanism of α-ZnPc-CMP and β-ZnPc-CMP as photocatalysts for the degradation of RhB is proposed.

Very high temperature tiling of tetraphenylporphyrin on rutile TiO2(110)

We demonstrate the thermal stability up to 450 °C of a titanium(iv)-porphyrin monolayer grown on the rutile TiO₂(110) surface. Starting from a film of metal-free tetra-phenyl-porphyrin, 2HTPP, deposited at room temperature, we show that, beyond the self-metalation reaction at 150°-200 °C, a second phase transition takes place at ∼350 °C. Using surface diffraction and microscopy, we observe a change of the phase symmetry from (2 × 4)-obliq to (2 × 6)-rect. Core level photoemission indicates that the chemical states of both the molecular tetrapyrrolic macrocycle and the substrate are unchanged. X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that the driving mechanism is a rotation of the phenyl terminations towards the substrate (flattening) that triggers a conformational change of the molecule through partial cyclo-dehydrogenation. From comparison with first principles calculations, we show that the common feature of these multiple phase transitions is the chemical nature of the porphyrin bonding atop the substrate oxygen rows: the coordination of the macrocycle central pocket to the oxygen atoms beneath is preserved throughout both the self-metalation and flattening reactions. The molecular orientation and arrangement are determined by steric constraints and intermolecular interactions, whereas the specific adsorption site is further stabilized by the interaction of the peripheral C-H network with the adjacent oxygen rows. Porphyrins are thus trapped at the TiO₂(110) surface, where they demonstrate an exceptionally high thermal stability (up to ∼450 °C), which makes this interface potentially useful for sensors and photocatalysis applications in harsh environments.

Electrocatalytic and photosensitizing behavior of metallophthalocyanine complexes

Electrocatalytic or photosensitizing (photocatalytic) properties of metallophthalocyanine (MPc) complexes are dependent on the central metal. Electrocatalytic behavior is observed for electroactive central metals such as Co , Mn and Fe , whereas photosensitizing behavior is observed for diamagnetic metals such as Al , Zn and Si . In the presence of nanoparticles such as quantum dots, the photosensitizing behavior of MPc complexes is improved. Carbon nanotubes enhance the electrocatalytic behavior of MPc complexes.

Photophysical properties and photodynamic activity of octacationic oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanines

The photophysical and photosensitizing properties of two octacationic oxotitanium phthalocyanines (TiOPcs), bearing pyridiniomethyl or cholinyl substituents, have been studied in aqueous and alcohol solutions. In water, both compounds were monomeric with the high quantum yields of fluorescence (Phi(F) = 0.17-0.19) and singlet oxygen formation (Phi(Delta) = 0.4-0.5). The Phi(F) and Phi(Delta) of both phthalocyanines decreased with the increase of solvent hydrophobicity from water to ethanol. This effect was much stronger in alcohol solutions of the pyridiniomethyl-substituted phthalocyanine and probably results from aggregation of TiOPc molecules caused by association of chloride anions with phthalocyanine cationic groups. Evidence is presented that under illumination aqueous TiOPc solutions also produce hydroxyl radicals, which probably appear owing to photocleavage of water molecules. The quantum yield of OH formation was (3-5) x 10(-5) after argon purging and twice as much in the presence of air. It is shown that irradiation of TiOPc solutions causes photobleaching of TiOPcs. The photobleaching quantum yield in water was found to be about 1 x 10(-4). The data suggest that photobleaching occurs owing to the reactivity of hydroxyl radicals, though singlet oxygen is generated by TiOPcs much more efficiently. The phototoxicity of the tested TiOPcs toward bacteria has been revealed. It is proposed that both OH and (1)O(2) might be responsible for the observed bactericidal effects.