Effect of ionenes on structure and catalytic activity of cobaltphthalocyanine, 1. Visible light spectroscopic investigations

The structural behaviour of cobalt(II)phthalocyanine‐tetrasodium sulfonate (CoPc(NaSO 3 ) 4 ) ( 1 ), a catalyst used in thiol oxidation, was investigated in the presence of ionenes (poly‐quaternary ammonium salts), ( 2 ) using visible light spectroscopy. It was observed that ionenes, which have been shown to promote the catalytic activity, strongly enhance the aggregation of the cobalt complex. No cobalt site isolation occurred up to N + /Co = 10 5 . Furthermore, a stoichiometric CoPc(NaSO 3 ) 4 /ionene complex appeared to be formed with an N + /Co‐ratio of 4:1. This ratio was found to hold for ionenes with M̄ n varying from 6 100 to 22 000 and charge densities from 0,8 to 1,5. As the charge density was increased, the observed CoPc(NaSO 3 ) 4 spectrum was more affected. Experiments with oxygen in alkaline solution revealed that the complex was resistant toward oxygen adduct formation in the presence of ionenes. This phenomenon is discussed in relation to the catalytic activity of the system.