A novel meso-tetrakis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) porphyrinato ([Zn(TMP)(4,4′-bpy)]) complex: Synthesis, characterization, and application

Abstract A new metalloporphyrin (4,4′-bipyridine)meso-tetrakis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) porphyrinato) zinc(II) ([Zn(TMP)(4,4′-bpy)]) (3) was obtained by reacting meso-tetrakis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)porphyrinato) zinc(II) [Zn(TMP)] (2) and 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy). The starting material meso-tetrakis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)porphyrine (H2TMP, 1) as well as complexes (2 and 3) were characterized by the means of microanalysis, 1H NMR, and ESI-MS techniques. The molecular structure of the final complex (3) was also confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Detailed photo-physical and electrochemical properties of the complexes were also determined. The oxidative degradation ability of complexes (2 and 3) was evaluated and compared against an organic dye (calmagite). When used as catalyst, complex (2) showed better efficiency ~ 48% than the complex (3) (41%). Overall, this work not only explores the ability of metalloporphyrin to degrade organic dyes in aqueous solution, but also showed that the degradation ability of a metalloporphyrin complex can be fine-tuned by varying axial ligand.