Stepwise reduction of interlocked viologen-based complexes in the gas phase

Chem Commun (Camb). 2020 Nov 14;56(88):13575-13578. doi: 10.1039/d0cc05115b. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Abstract

We present the first application of electrochemical reduction in an ion trap mass spectrometer as a dual-function tool to synthesise and probe the reactivity of interlocked viologen-based complexes. Compared with non-complexed archetypes, electron-donating macrocyclic porphyrin ethers retard electron transfer reaction rates and stabilise intact structures in low oxidation states.