Remarkable features of the McMurry reaction conditions in dimerization of formyl- and 2-formylvinylpurpurinimides. Electrochemistry of monomeric Ni(II) purpurinidmide and the corresponding dyads

The synthesis of a series of dimers with variable C-C linkages is carried out to determine the electrochemical properties of purpurinimide dyads and electron transfer sites for their reduction and oxidation. No significant difference is observed in UV-visible spectra between the meso- and [beta]-linked dyads as a function of the spacer length, but the spacer length does affect the ease of oxidation and reduction, the resulting HOMO-LUMO gap, and the interaction between the two oxidized or reduced units.