Novel hexabutylsulphonyltribenzotetraazachlorin–fullerene (C 60 ) complexes of iron (FeHBSTBTAC–C 60 ) and cobalt (CoHBSTBTAC–C 60 ) have been synthesized and their electrochemistry and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared with their octabutylsulphonylphthalocyanine analogues (FeOBSPc and CoOBSPc). It is proved that electron-withdrawing substituents (–SO 2 Bu and C 60 ) on phthalocyanine macrocycle exhibit distinct impact on the solution electrochemistry of these metallophthalocyanine (MPc) complexes. The more electron-withdrawing C 60 substituent suppressed ORR compared to the –SO 2 Bu in alkaline medium. FeOBSPc showed the best ORR activity involving a direct 4-electron mechanism, a rate constant of ∼1×10 8 cm 3 mol −1 s −1 and a Tafel slope of −171mVdec −1 .