In-situ coordination chemistry within cobalt-containing phthalocyanine nanoporous crystals

Abstract

Nanoporous crystals formed by the cobalt complex of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa(2′,6′-di-iso-propyphenoxy)phthalocyanine were used to demonstrate in situ coordination chemistry by single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations. Ligand exchange, including the introduction of imidazole with the apparent simultaneous oxidation of the metal centre, was readily achieved by simply adding the new ligand into the solvent in contact with the Phthalocyanine nanoporous crystals (PNCs). In addition, chloride and bromide axial ligands were introduced by the use of aqueous hydrochloric, hydrobromic acid or bromine as reagents.