Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen with phenanthroline-strapped porphyrins

The electrochemical behavior of three cytochrome c oxidase models has been investigated. All the models are derived from a phenanthroline-strapped, porphyrin framework that binds zinc(II) or iron(III) chloride in the porphyrin subunit, and copper(I) in the phenanthroline site. The iron complex and the bimetallic zinc(II) copper(I) complex of the parent ligand have been characterized by X-ray diffraction. One model consists of the parent structure on which C12 alkyl chains have been added. This soluble model achieves electrochemical 2-electron reduction of oxygen in organic solvents without the addition of an exogenous axial base, and in the presence of an organic or inorganic source of protons. The two other models comprise the parent phenanthroline-strapped porphyrin framework, on which two pendant imidazoles have been incorporated. These models adsorbed on ring-disk electrodes with an edge-oriented, pyrolytic graphite (EOPG) disk and a platinum ring, efficiently catalyze the 4-electron reduction of oxygen in dioxygen saturated water at neutral pH. Copyright (c) 2007 Society of Porphyrins & Phthalocyanines.