Synthesis and Spectral Properties of meso-Nitro-Substituted Octaethylporphyrins and Their Co(II) Complexes

The reaction of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin with sodium nitrite in trifluoroacetic acid produced 5-nitro-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin, 5,15-dinitro-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin, and 5,10,15-trinitro-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin. Reactions of octaethylporphyrin, mono-, di-, tri-, and tetranitro-substituted porphyrins coordination to cobalt(II) acetate in a chloroform–methanol mixture were studied. The corresponding Co(II) porphyrinates were obtained and identified. It was shown that, upon dissolution of Co(II) octaethylporphyrinates in dimethylformamide in the presence of NaOH, the Co(II)→Co(III) oxidation occurs in the coordination site of the macrocycle.