Spectroscopic characterization, X-ray molecular structures and cyclic voltammetry study of two (piperazine) cobalt(II) meso-arylporphyin complexes. Application as a catalyst for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol

Abstract

Two new cobaltous-porphyrin complexes, namely (μ-piperazine)-bis[(meso-tetra(para-methoxyphenyl)porphyrinato)]cobalt(II) and (piperazine)[meso-tetra(para-chlorophenyl)porphyrin]cobalt(II) dichloromethane disolvate, with the formulas [{CoII(TMPP)}2(μ2-pipz)] (complex 1) and [CoII(TClPP)(pipz)]·2CH2Cl2 (complex 2), were used efficiently as catalysts in the degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. These cobalt(II)-pipz porphyrin complexes were characterized by a variety of spectroscopic methods including infrared, UV–visible, fluorescence, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) as well as mass spectrometry. A cyclic voltammetry investigation was also carried out on these two Co(II) metalloporphyrins. The EPR results indicate that both complexes 1 and 2 are paramagnetic low-spin (S = 1/2) cobalt(II) porphyrin complexes. Furthermore, the X-ray diffraction crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined, and the intermolecular interactions were investigated by Hirshfeld surface analysis.