Electrochemical behaviour of complexes of copper(II) with 14-membered saturated tetra-aza macrocycles

The electrochemistry of copper(II) with three 14-membered saturated tetra-aza macrocyclic ligands (L) is reported. Both anodic and cathodic electrode processes involve complicated mechanisms; nevertheless cyclic voltammetry at high potential scan rates allowed evaluation of the E½ values for the couples [CuL]3+–[CuL]2+ and [CuL]2+–[CuL]+. Reduction and oxidation mechanisms have been studied and the half-life of the species [CuL]3+ anodically electrogenerated has been evaluated. The thermodynamic data are discussed.