IChO 2020 · Theory problem 7

Phthalocyanines

Figure 1
Figure 2

Emeritus Professor Özer Bekaroğlu

The term phthalocyanine (Pc) takes its origin from the Greek “naphtha”, which means rock oil, and “cyanine”, which means dark blue. Turkish scientist Özer Bekaroğlu can be regarded as the pioneer of Pc chemistry in Turkey.

Metal-free phthalocyanine (1, \(\ce{H2Pc}\)) is a large planar macrocyclic compound with the formula \(\ce{(C8H4N2)4H2}\).

7.1 How many π-electrons are there in the bold region of the \(\ce{H2Pc}\) molecule in compound 1 shown above?

Figure 3

Pcs containing one or two metal ions are called metallo-phthalocyanines (MPcs) and they exhibit different geometries as given above.

7.2 Complete the table in your answer sheet by determining the coordination number of central ions in 2–5.

Central ion Copper ion Titanium ion Silicon ion Cerium ion
Coordination number

7.3 Complete the table in your answer sheet by determining the oxidation number of each metal (Cu, Ti, and Ce) in 2, 3, and 5.

Metal in compounds 2 3 5
Oxidation number

7.4 Complete the table in your answer sheet by determining the geometry of compounds 2–5.

Geometry Compound
Octahedral
Square prism
Square pyramidal
Square planar

7.5 Complete the table in your answer sheet by determining the magnetic property of compounds 2–5.

  • Use the letter "p" for paramagnetic property and letter "d" for a diamagnetic property.
Compound Magnetic property
2
3
4
5

7.6 Write the ground-state electron configuration of the silicon (Si) ion in the compound 4 and find all the quantum numbers for the 2p electrons in its ground state.

Electron configuration:
Quantum numbers for 2p electrons: \(n\) \(l\) \(m_l\) \(m_s\)

Metal-free phthalocyanine (1, \(\ce{H2Pc}\)) is commonly formed through the cyclotetramerization of phthalonitriles. On the other hand, Pcs having different substituents are called asymmetric, which can be prepared by the statistical cyclization of two different phthalonitriles. This method has no selectivity and the product is a mixture of all possible isomers.

7.7 Draw the possible products that may occur in the statistical cyclization method by using F and G. If there are any stereoisomers label as cis- or trans-.

  • F and G represent two different symmetrical phthalonitriles.
  • One of the products is \(\mathrm{F}_4\) as given below.
  • Draw other products similar to the format of \(\mathrm{F}_4\).
Figure 4

Pcs are used as photosensitizers in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer due to their strong absorption in the visible spectrum and high molar absorption coefficients. PDT consists of three essential components: photosensitizer, light, and oxygen. None of these is individually toxic, but together they initiate a photochemical reaction resulting in the generation of cytotoxic singlet oxygen (\(\ce{^{1}O2}\)) that can destroy cancer cells.

Figure 5
  • The multiplicity of an energy level is defined as \(2S+1\)
  • If the two spins are parallel (\(\uparrow\uparrow\)), \(S=1\), and if the two spins are antiparallel (\(\uparrow\downarrow\)), \(S=0\).

7.8 Draw the molecule orbital (MO) diagram of the lowest energy singlet state of dioxygen (\(\ce{^{1}O2}\)) and calculate bond order.

  • There are no unpaired electrons in that state!

7.9 If the wavelength of the light needed to excite triplet oxygen into singlet oxygen is 1270 nm, calculate the energy (in kJ/mol) needed for this transition process.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 7.1: \(18\) \(\pi\)-electrons.
  • 7.2: Coordination numbers: copper 4, titanium 5, silicon 6, cerium 8.
  • 7.3: Oxidation numbers: 2: \(+2\); 3: \(+4\); 5: \(+4\).
  • 7.4: Octahedral: 4; square prism: 5; square pyramidal: 3; square planar: 2.
  • 7.5: 2: p; 3: d; 4: d; 5: d.
  • 7.6: \(\ce{Si^{4+}}\): \(1s^2\,2s^2\,2p^6\). The six quantum-number sets are \((2,1,-1,\pm\frac12)\), \((2,1,0,\pm\frac12)\), and \((2,1,+1,\pm\frac12)\), taking both signs in each case.
  • 7.7: Six products including the supplied example: \(\mathrm{F}_4\), \(\mathrm{F}_3\mathrm{G}\), cis-\(\mathrm{F}_2\mathrm{G}_2\), trans-\(\mathrm{F}_2\mathrm{G}_2\), \(\mathrm{F}\mathrm{G}_3\), and \(\mathrm{G}_4\).
  • 7.8: Pair the two highest occupied electrons in one of the degenerate \(\pi^\ast\) orbitals; leave the other empty. Bond order: 2.
  • 7.9: \(\boxed{94.2\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}\).

Solution

7.1 — Electrons in the highlighted circuit

Compound 1 is metal-free phthalocyanine, \(\ce{H2Pc}\), with molecular formula \(\ce{C32H18N8}\).

SMILES: c12[nH]c(c3ccccc32)nc2nc(c3ccccc32)nc2[nH]c(c3ccccc32)nc2nc(c3ccccc32)n1

The bold conjugated circuit contains nine double bonds. Each contributes two \(\pi\)-electrons:

\[ N_\pi=9(2)=\boxed{18}. \]

This also satisfies Hückel’s \(4n+2\) count with \(n=4\). The count concerns the highlighted circuit, so the remaining benzenoid bonds are not added.

7.2 — Coordination numbers

Each phthalocyanine ligand coordinates through its four inward-facing nitrogen atoms. Coordination number counts directly attached donor atoms; a multiple bond to one donor atom still contributes only one.

Compound Donor atoms surrounding the central atom Coordination number
2, copper(II) phthalocyanine Four nitrogen atoms 4
3, oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanine Four nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom 5
4, dichloridosilicon(IV) phthalocyanine Four nitrogen atoms and two chlorine atoms 6
5, bis(phthalocyaninato)cerium(IV) Four nitrogen atoms from each of two ligands 8

The following SMILES specify the structures and their coordination connectivity. The arrows -> denote donor-to-central-atom coordinate bonds. Their spatial geometries are specified in 7.4.

  • 2 — Copper(II) phthalocyanine, \(\ce{CuPc}\):
    [Cu+2]1234.c56[n-]->1c(c7ccccc75)nc5n->2c(c7ccccc75)nc5[n-]->3c(c7ccccc75)nc5n->4c(c7ccccc75)n6

  • 3 — Oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanine (titanyl phthalocyanine), \(\ce{TiOPc}\):
    [O-2]->[Ti+4]1234.c56[n-]->1c(c7ccccc75)nc5n->2c(c7ccccc75)nc5[n-]->3c(c7ccccc75)nc5n->4c(c7ccccc75)n6

  • 4 — Dichloridosilicon(IV) phthalocyanine, \(\ce{SiCl2Pc}\):
    Cl[Si-2]1234(Cl).c56n1c(c7ccccc75)nc5[n+]2c(c7ccccc75)nc5n3c(c7ccccc75)nc5[n+]4c(c7ccccc75)n6

  • 5 — Bis(phthalocyaninato)cerium(IV), \(\ce{Ce(Pc)2}\):
    [Ce+4]12345678.c9%10[n-]->1c(c%11ccccc%119)nc9n->2c(c%11ccccc%119)nc9[n-]->3c(c%11ccccc%119)nc9n->4c(c%11ccccc%119)n%10.c9%10[n-]->5c(c%11ccccc%119)nc9n->6c(c%11ccccc%119)nc9[n-]->7c(c%11ccccc%119)nc9n->8c(c%11ccccc%119)n%10

For 4, the ordinary-bond SMILES uses formal charge separation to represent six-coordinate silicon. The Si-2 and two [n+] formal charges are distinct from oxidation numbers; silicon’s oxidation number is \(+4\). For 3, the ionic dative representation specifies the terminal oxo connectivity without attempting to express the full titanium–oxygen multiple-bond character.

7.3 — Oxidation numbers

Removal of the two inner N–H protons from metal-free phthalocyanine gives the phthalocyaninate(2−) ligand, \(\ce{Pc^{2-}}\), with formula \(\ce{C32H16N8^{2-}}\).

SMILES: c12[n-]c(c3ccccc32)nc2nc(c3ccccc32)nc2[n-]c(c3ccccc32)nc2nc(c3ccccc32)n1

The terminal oxygen in 3 is an oxide ligand, \(\ce{O^{2-}}\), SMILES [O-2]. All three complexes are neutral, so their charges give:

Compound Charge balance Central ion and its SMILES Oxidation number
2 \(x-2=0\) Copper(II), \(\ce{Cu^{2+}}\), [Cu+2] +2
3 \(x-2-2=0\) Titanium(IV), \(\ce{Ti^{4+}}\), [Ti+4] +4
5 \(x+2(-2)=0\) Cerium(IV), \(\ce{Ce^{4+}}\), [Ce+4] +4

7.4 — Coordination geometries

Geometry Compound Description of the required drawing
Octahedral 4 Four nitrogen donors form the equatorial square; the two chloride ligands occupy opposite axial positions.
Square prism 5 The eight nitrogen donors form two parallel, aligned squares, with cerium between the two phthalocyanine ligands.
Square pyramidal 3 Four nitrogen donors form the square base, and the terminal oxygen occupies the apical position.
Square planar 2 Copper and its four nitrogen donors lie in one plane, with the donors surrounding copper approximately at the corners of a square.

The two axial chloride ligands in 4 are therefore trans. These spatial arrangements are not specified by the SMILES strings alone.

7.5 — Magnetic properties

A species with an unpaired electron is paramagnetic; a species with all electrons paired is diamagnetic. The phthalocyaninate ligands here are closed-shell dianions.

Compound Central-ion electron configuration Number of unpaired electrons Magnetic property
2 \(\ce{Cu^{2+}}:\ [\mathrm{Ar}]\,3d^9\) 1 p
3 \(\ce{Ti^{4+}}:\ [\mathrm{Ar}]\), \(3d^0\) 0 d
4 \(\ce{Si^{4+}}:\ [\mathrm{Ne}]\) 0 d
5 \(\ce{Ce^{4+}}:\ [\mathrm{Xe}]\), \(4f^0\) 0 d

For copper(II), nine electrons distributed among five \(d\) orbitals necessarily leave one unpaired electron.

7.6 — Silicon electron configuration and quantum numbers

In 4, the phthalocyaninate ligand has charge \(-2\), and each chloride ion, \(\ce{Cl-}\), SMILES [Cl-], has charge \(-1\). Therefore,

\[ x-2-1-1=0 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad x=+4. \]

The central ion is silicon(IV), \(\ce{Si^{4+}}\), SMILES [Si+4]. Silicon has atomic number 14, so this ion has \(14-4=10\) electrons:

\[ \boxed{1s^2\,2s^2\,2p^6=[\mathrm{Ne}]}. \]

For every \(2p\) electron, \(n=2\) and \(l=1\). The three possible orbital magnetic quantum numbers are \(m_l=-1,0,+1\). Each orbital contains two electrons with opposite spins:

Electron \(n\) \(l\) \(m_l\) \(m_s\)
1 2 1 \(-1\) \(+\tfrac12\)
2 2 1 \(-1\) \(-\tfrac12\)
3 2 1 \(0\) \(+\tfrac12\)
4 2 1 \(0\) \(-\tfrac12\)
5 2 1 \(+1\) \(+\tfrac12\)
6 2 1 \(+1\) \(-\tfrac12\)

7.7 — Statistical cyclization products

The four building blocks occupy four successive positions around the macrocycle. Since F and G are each symmetrical, their individual orientations introduce no additional possibilities.

Draw each product using the four-armed outline in the question, filling its top, right, bottom, and left sectors as follows:

Product Top Right Bottom Left Description
\(\mathrm{F}_4\), supplied F F F F Four F units
\(\mathrm{F}_3\mathrm{G}\) F F F G Three F units and one G unit
cis-\(\mathrm{F}_2\mathrm{G}_2\) F F G G Identical units occupy adjacent sectors
trans-\(\mathrm{F}_2\mathrm{G}_2\) F G F G Identical units occupy opposite sectors
\(\mathrm{F}\mathrm{G}_3\) F G G G One F unit and three G units
\(\mathrm{G}_4\) G G G G Four G units

Thus, five additional products must be drawn alongside the supplied \(\mathrm{F}_4\).

To establish completeness, classify products by the number of G units:

  • Zero or four G units gives one arrangement each.
  • One or three G units gives one arrangement each, because rotations identify all placements.
  • Two G units gives two arrangements: adjacent or opposite.

Hence,

\[ N_{\text{distinct products}}=1+1+2+1+1=\boxed{6}. \]

The cis/trans labels above follow the question’s terminology. The actual substituents defining F and G are unspecified, so these abstract products do not have unique molecular names or chemical SMILES beyond their building-block descriptions.

7.8 — Singlet-oxygen MO diagram and bond order

The molecule is singlet dioxygen, \(\ce{^{1}O2}\), with connectivity SMILES O=O. Ordinary SMILES does not specify its spin multiplicity or orbital occupation; those must be stated separately.

There are 12 valence electrons. Following the question’s paired-electron representation, fill the orbitals as shown below. Energy increases upward; the two boxes in each \(\pi\) row denote degenerate orbitals.

MO level, highest first Occupation
\(\sigma^\ast(2p_z)\) \([\,]\)
\(\pi^\ast(2p)\), two degenerate orbitals \([\uparrow\downarrow]\quad[\,]\)
\(\pi(2p)\), two degenerate orbitals \([\uparrow\downarrow]\quad[\uparrow\downarrow]\)
\(\sigma(2p_z)\) \([\uparrow\downarrow]\)
\(\sigma^\ast(2s)\) \([\uparrow\downarrow]\)
\(\sigma(2s)\) \([\uparrow\downarrow]\)

Either of the degenerate \(\pi^\ast\) boxes may be shown occupied. The filled core orbitals, \(\sigma(1s)^2\sigma^\ast(1s)^2\), are omitted from the table; their bonding and antibonding contributions cancel.

All electrons are paired in the requested diagram, giving

\[ S=0,\qquad 2S+1=1. \]

The valence bonding and antibonding electron counts are

\[ N_{\mathrm b}=2+2+4=8, \qquad N_{\mathrm{ab}}=2+2=4. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{\text{Bond order} =\frac{N_{\mathrm b}-N_{\mathrm{ab}}}{2} =\frac{8-4}{2}=2}. \]

7.9 — Energy of the triplet-to-singlet excitation

Triplet dioxygen, \(\ce{^{3}O2}\), has the same connectivity SMILES O=O; its triplet electronic state must be specified separately. The excitation is

\[ \ce{^{3}O2 ->[h\nu] ^{1}O2}. \]

For one absorbed photon per molecule,

\[ E_{\text{photon}}=\frac{hc}{\lambda}, \qquad E_{\text{molar}}=\frac{N_{\mathrm A}hc}{\lambda}. \]

Using the standard SI constants

\[ \begin{aligned} h&=6.62607015\times10^{-34}\ \mathrm{J\,s},\\ c&=2.99792458\times10^8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}},\\ N_{\mathrm A}&=6.02214076\times10^{23}\ \mathrm{mol^{-1}}, \end{aligned} \]

and

\[ \lambda=1270\ \mathrm{nm}=1.270\times10^{-6}\ \mathrm m, \]

gives

\[ E_{\text{photon}} =\frac{(6.62607015\times10^{-34})(2.99792458\times10^8)} {1.270\times10^{-6}} =1.56413\times10^{-19}\ \mathrm J. \]

Thus,

\[ E_{\text{molar}} =(1.56413\times10^{-19})(6.02214076\times10^{23}) =9.41941\times10^4\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}}, \]

or

\[ \boxed{E_{\text{molar}}=94.2\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}. \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.