Preparation of iron and cobalt phthalocyanine-1,2:3,4:8,9:10,11: 15,16:17,18:22,23:24,25-octakis(N-decyldicarboximide) and their catalytic behavior for electroreduction of oxygen

The iron and cobalt phthalocyanines included in the title have been synthesized. Their absorption spectra are unusual compared to other metallophthalocyanines, showing intense hypochromism in the Q band region. The cobalt and iron derivatives show 4-electron reduction capability in the electroreduction of oxygen over the entire range of pH values and in neutral and alkaline pH, respectively, although the potentials are not necessarily positive enough.