Bis-porphyrin copolymers covalently linked by pyridinium spacers obtained by electropolymerization from β-octaethylporphyrins and pyridyl-substituted porphyrins

Abstract

Five bis-porphyrin copolymers have been obtained by an electropolymerization process using zinc β-octaethylporphyrin (ZnOEP) type macrocycles and porphyrins functionalized by several pyridyl groups. This electropolymerization process is based on a nucleophilic attack of the pyridyl groups onto electrogenerated ZnOEP dications at their meso-positions. It is the first time that bis-porphyrin copolymers have been obtained. In this study, the copolymers have been characterized by electrochemistry, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. In particular, interactions between pyridinium spacers are thoroughly discussed.