Spectroscopy of Free-Base N-Confused Tetraphenylporphyrin Radical Anion and Radical Cation

Abstract

The radical anions and radical cations of the two tautomers (1e and 1i) of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl N-confused free-base porphyrin have been studied using a combination of cyclic voltammetry, steady state absorption spectroscopy, and computational chemistry. N-Confused porphyrins (NCPs), alternatively called 2-aza-21-carba-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrins or inverted porphyrins, are of great interest for their potential as building blocks in assemblies designed for artificial photosynthesis, and understanding the absorption spectra of the corresponding radical ions is paramount to future studies in multicomponent arrays where electron-transfer reactions are involved. NCP 1e was shown to oxidize at a potential of E(ox) 0.65 V vs Fc(+)|Fc in DMF and reduce at E(red) -1.42 V, while the corresponding values for 1i in toluene were E(ox) 0.60 V and E(red) -1.64 V. The geometries of these radical ions were computed at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level in the gas phase and in solution using the polarizable continuum model (PCM). From these structures and that of H(2)TPP and its corresponding radical ions, the computed redox potentials for 1e and 1i were calculated using the Born-Haber cycle. While the computed reduction potentials and electron affinities were in excellent agreement with the experimental reduction potentials, the calculated oxidation potentials displayed a somewhat less ideal relationship with experiment. The absorption spectra of the four radical ions were also measured experimentally, with radical cations 1e(•+) and 1i(•+) displaying significant changes in the Soret and Q-band regions as well as new low energy absorption bands in the near-IR region. The changes in the absorption spectra of radical anions 1e(•-) and 1i(•-) were not as dramatic, with the changes occurring only in the Soret and Q-band regions. These results were favorably modeled using time-dependent density functional calculations at the TD-B3LYP/6-31+G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. These results were also compared to the existing data of free base tetraphenylporphyrin and free base tetraphenylchlorin.