Cobalt(II) porphyrin axially coordinated with 2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-5′-(pyridin-2-yl)-1′-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-2′,4′-dihydro-1′H-pyrrolo[3′,4′ : 1,2](C60-Ih)[5,6]fullerene: formation, chemical structure, and spectroscopic properties

Abstract

Construction of new effective photovoltaic devices based on organic dyes has important implications for modern and future technologies. In this article, we studied the equilibrium, the rate, and the spectral manifestation of the reaction of [(2,3,7,8,12,18-hexamethyl,13,17-diethyl,5-(2-pyridyl)porphyrinato)cobalt(II)]–[2′-(pyridin-4-yl)-5′-(pyridin-2-yl)-1′-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-2′,4′-dihydro-1′H-pyrrolo[3′,4′ : 1,2](C60-Ih)[5,6]fullerene] triad formation as well as its spectral properties and photo electrochemical behavior. The cobalt porphyrin–pyridyl-substituted fullerene mixtures in toluene are self-assembling systems due to axial donor–acceptor binding between Co of the porphyrin complex and N-pyridyl of the substituted fullerene. The formation rate constant, k298K, and the stability constant, K298K, of donor–acceptor triad formed by coordination of two substituted fullerene molecules to Co porphyrin are (44.4 ± 0.8) mol L−1 s−1 and (56 ± 16)×107 L2 mol−2, respectively. Modification of the titanium electrode coated with the natural oxide film was carried out using the porphyrin–fullerene triad and its individual components. Photopotential and photocurrent density of the system with modified electrode were studied. The obtained results are of interest for creating porphyrin-based donor–acceptor systems as components in organic photovoltaics.