A cobalt(II) phthalocyanine with indole substituents: formation, characterization and electrocatalytic studies

Herein, we report the formation of a new cobalt(II) phthalocyanine (CoPc) containing peripheral tetra-substituted indole (CoPc-ind, 2) moieties. The derivatized phthalonitrile, 4-(indole-4-oxy)phthalonitrile (1) as well its corresponding metal complex was characterized by NMR (for 1), IR– and UV–Vis spectroscopy as well as TOF mass spectrometry and elemental analysis (for 2). The electrochemical properties of the N₄-macrocyclic metal complex were investigated using cyclic- and square-wave voltammetry as well as corroborated by UV–Vis spectroelectrochemistry. The CoPc was electrodeposited onto the surface of a Pt working electrode followed by the immobilization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto the modified working electrode surface. The electrocatalytic activity of the resultant modified electrode toward dopamine revealed a lower ΔE value of 80 mV versus Ag|AgCl for the modified (2-MWCNTs) Pt electrode compared to the bare Pt electrode (ΔE = 280 mV vs. Ag|AgCl). The diffusion- and convection-controlled electron-transfer kinetics of the chemically modified electrode were evaluated by chronoamperometry and rotating disk electrode techniques. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies revealed that the 2-MWCNTs Pt electrode had a lower charge-transfer resistance and a higher apparent electron-transfer rate constant.