Stepwise oxidations and reductions of a physiologically active chlorin: voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical studies on bonellin dimethyl ester

Abstract

A.c.and cyclic voltammetric studies have established the occurrence of stepwise one-electron reductions and oxidations of the title compound (H₂Bn), and of octaethychlorin. The absorption spectra (350–850 nm) of electrogenerated H₂Bn^– and H₂Bn⁺ in CH₃CN are reported and the reduction is shown to pass through an intermediate, possibly [H₂Bn·H₂Bn^–].