Electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, electrocatalytic oxygen reducing, and heavy metal ion sensing properties of novel tetrakis-[4-((2, 8-bis (trifluoromethyl) quinolin-4-yl) oxyl)] substituted metallophthalocyanines

•Novel tetrakis-[(2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-yl)oxyl] substituted Pc complexes with Zn(II), Co(II) and Fe(II) ions were synthesized.•Electrochemical redox characteristics of the compounds were determined by electroanalytical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and chronocoulometry, in situ spectroelectrochemistry and in situ electrocolorimetry.•The iron(II) phthalocyanine complex appeared as suitable electrocatalyst for both polymer electrolyte membraned and direct methanol fuel cells with high catalytic performance for electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen.•The iron(II) phthalocyanine complex is a promising alternative material which can be used to detect the heavy metal ion in aqueous solutions.