SPECTROSCOPIC AND ELECTROCATALYTIC ASPECTS OF IRON PHTHALOCYANINE AND ITS mu -OXO DERIVATIVES.

Transition metal phthalocyanines and porphyrins and other macrocycles as well, have been the subject of numerous investigations as catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of dioxygen. Among the increasing number of compounds that have been examined, iron phthalocyanine appears to have received special attention. This may have been motivated in part by the ease by which FePc can be prepared and purified and also by its high electrocatalytic activity for O//2 reduction. This paper presents spectroscopic and electrochemical data for two recently reported mu -oxo forms of FePc in crystalline form, based upon which new insight has been gained regarding the physical state of the macrocycles in the carbon support matrix and their electrocatalytic activity for O//2 reduction.