Spectroelectrochemical characterization of meso triaryl-substituted Mn(IV), Mn(III) and Mn(II) corroles. Effect of solvent and oxidation state on UV-visible spectra and redox potentials in nonaqueous media

Abstract

Two series of substituted manganese triarylcorroles were synthesized and characterized as to their electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties in CH 2 Cl 2, CH 3 CN and pyridine. The investigated compounds are represented as ( YPh )3 CorMn III and ( YPh )3 CorMn IV Cl , where Cor is a trianion of the corrole and Y is a Cl , F , H or CH 3 para-substituent on the three phenyl rings of the macrocycle. Each neutral Mn(III) corrole exists as a four-coordinate complex in CH 2 Cl 2 and CH 3 CN and as a five-coordinate species in pyridine. ( YPh )3 CorMn III undergoes two oxidations to stepwise generate a Mn(IV) corrole and a Mn(IV) π-cation radical. It also undergoes one reduction to generate a Mn(II) corrole in CH 2 Cl 2 or CH 3 CN . In contrast, the reduction of ( YPh )3 CorMn III leads to a Mn(III) corrole π-anion radical in pyridine. One oxidation is observed for ( YPh )3 CorMn IV Cl in CH 2 Cl 2 and CH 3 CN to generate a Mn(IV) corrole π-cation radical while Mn(III) and Mn(II) corroles are stepwise formed after reduction of the same compound. The second reduction of ( YPh )3 CorMn IV Cl in pyridine gives a Mn(III) π-anion radical as opposed to a Mn(II) corrole with an unreduced π-ring system. The neutral, reduced and oxidized forms of each corrole were characterized by electrochemistry and UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry and comparisons are made between the UV-visible spectra and redox potentials of the compounds in different central metal oxidation states. An overall reduction/oxidation mechanism in the three solvents is proposed.