The present work describes the preparation and characterization of a new cobalt(III) porphyrin coordination compound named (chlorido)(nicotinoylchloride)[meso-tetra(para-chlorophenyl)porphyrinato]cobalt(III) dichloromethane monosolvate with the formula [Co^III(TClPP)Cl(NTC)]·CH₂Cl₂ (4). The single-crystal X-ray molecular structure of 4 shows very important ruffling and waving distortions of the porphyrin macrocycle. The Soret and Q absorption bands of 4 are very red-shifted as a consequence of the very distorted porphyrin core. This coordination compound was also studied by fluorescence and cyclic voltammetry. The efficiency of our four porphyrinic compounds—the H₂TClPP (1) free-base porphyrin, the [Co^II(TClPP)] (2) and [Co^III(TClPP)Cl] (3) starting materials, and the new Co(III) metalloporphyrin [Co^III(TClPP)Cl(NTC)]·CH₂Cl₂ (4)—as catalysts in the photochemical degradation was tested on malachite green (MG) dye. The current voltage of complexes 3 and 4 was also studied. Electrical parameters, including the saturation current density (J_s) and barrier height (ϕ_b), were measured.

This work describes the synthesis of a novel zinc(II) porphyrin complex, namely [Meso-4α-tetra-(1,2,3-triazolyl)phenylporphyrinato]zinc(II) symbolized by 4α-[Zn(TAzPP)] (4), using the click chemistry approach in the presence of copper iodide. All of the synthetic porphyrin species reported herein were fully characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, UV-visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence. To synthesize the 4α-[Zn(TAzPP)] complex (4), we produced 4α-Meso-tetra-o-nitrophenylporphyrin (H₂T_NO2PP) and 4α-meso-tetra-o-aminophenylporphyrin (4α-H₂TNH₂PP) (1) using known classic literature methods. This 4α atropisomer was converted to 4α-meso-tetra-o-azidophenylporphyrin (4α-H₂TN₃PP) (3) by reaction with sodium nitrite and sodium azide, and then it was metalated by Zn(II), leading to [4α-meso-tetra(2-azidophenyl)porphyrinate]zinc(II) (4α-[Zn(TN₃PP)]) (3). The click chemistry synthetic method was finally used to prepare 4α-[Zn(TAzPP)] (4). This new tetracoordinated zinc(II) porphyrin complex was prepared and characterized in order to: (i) produce a receptor for anion recognition and sensing application for Cl⁻ and Br⁻; (ii) study the catalytic decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes; and (iii) determine the electronic characteristics as a photovoltaic device. Complex (4) formed 1:1 complex stoichiometric species with chloride and bromide halides and the average association constants of the 1:1 addicts were ~ 10³. The photodecomposition of RhB and MO dyes in the presence of complex (4) as a catalyst and molecular oxygen showed that complex (4) presented a photodegradation yield of approximately 70% and could be reused for five successive cycles without any obvious change in its catalytic activity. The current-voltage characteristics and impedance spectroscopy measurements of complex (4) confirmed that our zinc(II) metalloporphyrin could be used as a photovoltaic device.

The meso-tetrakis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)porphyrinato cobalt(II) complex [Co(TMFPP)] was synthesised in 93% yield. The compound was studied by ¹H NMR, UV-visible absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The optical band gap Eg was calculated to 2.15 eV using the Tauc plot method and a semiconducting character is suggested. Cyclic voltammetry showed two fully reversible reduction waves at E_1/2 = −0.91 V and E_1/2 = −2.05 V vs. SCE and reversible oxidations at 0.30 V and 0.98 V representing both metal-centred (Co(0)/Co(I)/Co(II)/Co(III)) and porphyrin-centred (Por²⁻/Por⁻) processes. [Co(TMFPP)] is a very active catalyst for the electrochemical formation of H₂ from DMF/acetic acid, with a Faradaic Efficiency (FE) of 85%, and also catalysed the reduction of CO₂ to CO with a FE of 90%. Moreover, the two triarylmethane dyes crystal violet and malachite green were decomposed using H₂O₂ and [Co(TMFPP)] as catalyst with an efficiency of more than 85% in one batch.

In search of robust catalysts for redox transformations such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or CO₂ to CO reduction, we stepped on the previously reported meso-tetrakis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)porphyrinato cobalt(II) complex [Co(TTMPP)]. We prepared [Co(TTMPP)] in good yields and characterized it by IR, UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The [Co(TTMPP)] was used as a homogeneous catalyst for the electrochemical formation of H₂ (HER) in DMF (N,N’-dimethylformamide)/TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) and DMF/EtN₃BF₄ solutions, with high faradic efficiencies (FE). Additionally, the reduction of CO₂ to CO in DMF under a CO₂ atmosphere was catalyzed in DMF/TFE (TFE = 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol) and DMF/PhOH with high FE and only traces of H₂ as a by-product. Turnover frequencies of 15.80 or 9.33 s⁻¹, respectively were determined from CV experiments or controlled potential electrolysis in the presence of 1eq. TFE. They were lower with PhOH as proton source with 13.85 or 8.31 s⁻¹, respectively. Further, [Co(TTMPP)] as a solid catalyst (suspension) allowed the photodecomposition of the organic dyes methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) using H₂O₂ under visible light irradiation. The photocatalyst was photostable over five cycles. A photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on trapping experiments of reactive oxygen species.