The synthesis, spectroscopic and redox properties of new metallophthalocyanines (PcM) are active areas of research. The rings of PcM complexes can be successively reduced using chemical, electrochemical, or photochemical methods to give rise to species containing ring-reduced Pc(3-), Pc(4-) or Pc(5-) ligands ; in the other direction, both ring-oxidized Pc(-1) and Pc(0)-containing systems can be accessed. These species are usually generated and characterized in situ and have only recently begun to be isolated and structurally characterized. In particular, there are few examples of phthalocyanines with early-transition and f-block metals - despite the rich organometallic-type reactivity of these metals - and thus we targeted new PcM complexes in this underdeveloped area of the periodic table. Given their larger ionic size, the unusual structural feature of the metal centre protruding far out of the Pc cavity is observed. Hence, the exposure of the coordination sphere of these Lewis-acidic (often d0) metals makes these PcM complexes attractive catalysts; this cis-oriented axial ligation also drastically improves the solubility, despite the Pc-ring remaining unsubstituted.

In this presentation the isolation and structural characterization of new PcM materials with M = scandium, zirconium, niobium and (time-permitting) molybdenum will be described, along with rare structurally characterized examples of their reduced Pc(4-) and Pc(3-) complexes. Their electronic structure and electrochemical behaviour will be discussed using a combination of spectroscopic and structural techniques. A series of moisture-sensitive, soluble PcZr(IV) and PcNb(V) alkoxides were prepared, characterized, and their catalytic activity towards the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide was studied and will be detailed. Reaction of PcScCl with LiOⁱPr and NaO^tBu yielded two hydroxide complexes containing the PcScOH unit, obtained from the hydrolysis of the putative PcSc-alkoxide intermediate. The two structurally characterized systems have a tilted “butterfly” shape structure, reminiscent of bent metallocenes. The solubility of these early transition-metal based complexes present new opportunities for the advancement of this underdeveloped area of PcM chemistry. Time permitting, our related work on organometallic PcLnX complexes will also be described.

References

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