Triplet-Triplet Energy Transfer Controlled by the Donor-Acceptor Distance in Rigidly Held Palladium-Containing Cofacial Bisporphyrins

What does it take to induce equilibrium in bidirectional energy transfers?

Two dyads built with a co-facial slipped bis(zinc(ii)porphyrin), a free base and a bridge, [Zn2]-bridge-[Fb] (bridge = C6H4C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C, 1 and C6H4C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC6H4, 2), exhibit S1 energy equilibrium [Zn2]* ↔ [Fb]* at 298 K, an extremely rare situation, which depends on the degree of MO coupling between the units. At 77 K, 2 becomes bi-directional due to the two large C6H4-[Zn2] and C6H4-[Fb] dihedral angles.

Symmetrical and Nonsymmetrical Meso-Meso Directly Linked Hydroporphyrin Dyads: Synthesis and Photochemical Properties

A series of a rigid meso-meso directly linked chlorin-chlorin, chlorin-bacteriochlorin, and bacteriochlorin-bacteriochlorin dyads, including free bases as well as Zn(II), Pd(II), and Cu(II) complexes, has been synthesized, and their absorption, emission, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) photosensitization, and electronic properties have been examined. Marked bathochromic shifts of the long-wavelength Q _y absorption band and increase in fluorescence quantum yields in dyads, in comparison to the corresponding monomers, are observed. Nonsymmetrical dyads (except bacteriochlorin-bacteriochlorin) show two distinctive Q _y bands, corresponding to the absorption of each dyad component. A nearly quantitative S₁-S₁ energy transfer between hydroporphyrins in dyads, leading to an almost exclusive emission of hydroporphyrin with a lower S₁ energy, has been determined. Several symmetrical and all nonsymmetrical dyads exhibit a significant reduction in fluorescence quantum yields in solvents of high dielectric constants; this is attributed to the photoinduced electron transfer. The complexation of one macrocycle by Cu(II) or Pd(II) enhances intersystem crossing in the adjacent, free base dyad component, which is manifested by a significant reduction in fluorescence and increase in quantum yield of ¹O₂ photosensitization.

Structures of Metalloporphyrin-Oligomer Multianions: Cofacial versus Coplanar Motifs as Resolved by Ion Mobility Spectrometry

We have combined ion mobility mass spectrometry with quantum chemical calculations to investigate the gas-phase structures of multiply negatively charged oligomers of meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)metalloporphyrins comprising the divalent metal centers Zn^II, Cu^II, and Pd^II. Sets of candidate structures were obtained by geometry optimizations based on calculations at both the semiempirical PM7 and density functional theory (DFT) levels. The corresponding theoretical cross sections were calculated with the projection approximation and also with the trajectory method. By comparing these collision cross sections with the respective experimental values we were able to assign oligomer structures up to the tetramer. In most cases the cross sections of the lowest energy isomers predicted by theory were found to agree with the measurements to within the experimental uncertainty (2%). Specifically, we find that for a given oligomer size the structures are independent of the metal center but depend strongly on the charge state. Oligomers in low charge states with a correspondingly larger number of sodium counterions tend to form stacked, cofacial structures reminiscent of H-aggregate motifs observed in solution. By contrast, in higher charge states, the stack opens to form coplanar structures.

The first example of cofacial bis(dipyrrins)

Two series of cofacial bis(dipyrrins) were prepared and their photophysical properties as well as their bimolecular fluorescence quenching with C₆₀ were investigated.

Very fast singlet and triplet energy transfers in a tri-chromophoric porphyrin dyad aided by the truxene platform

A trichromophoric dyad composed of an octa-β-alkyl-palladium(II)porphyrin (donor) and two tri-meso-aryl-zinc(II)porphyrins (acceptors) held by a truxene spacer exhibits very fast rates for triplet energy transfers at 77 (kET(T1) = 1.63 × 108 s-1) and 298 K (kET(T1) = 3.44 × 108 s-1), whereas the corresponding singlet energy transfer rates, kET(S1) = 3.9 × 1010 s-1 (77 K) and kET(S1) = 6.0 × 1010 s-1 (298 K), are also considered fast. The interpretation for these results is that the energy transfer processes proceed via a through bond Dexter mechanism (i.e. double electron exchange) supported by comparison with literature data and evidence for a moderate MO coupling between the donor and acceptor chromophores in the frontier MOs.

What can we learn from artificial special pairs?

Plants and photosynthetic bacteria obtain their energy from sunlight or surrounding radiation. Their photosynthetic membranes are composed of a much elaborated series of antenna molecules based on chlorophylls or bacteriochlorophylls, carotenoids playing multiple roles, various electron transport accessories, and central special pairs. The latter components are the most difficult to mimic with exactitude because the structure−property relationship depends on many factors including interplanar distance, slip angle, substituents, metal, and axial ligand. To this list of factors to control with quasi-perfection, one should also add the thermal activation (i.e., temperature). Over the past 15 years or so (2001–2013), an intensive collaboration with Professor Roger Guilard (Université de Bourgogne, Dijon) dealt with elucidating the role of each parameter to provide the best design of artificial special pairs capable of responding or behaving like the natural special pairs, namely with regards with the antenna effect. The latest feature is one of the defence mechanisms slowing down the rate for the primary electron transfer from the special pair to the electron transport accessories. This review highlights the advances in this challenging area of mimicry of the photophysical events in biological systems, namely the artificial special pairs designed in our laboratory for the antenna processes.

Origin of the temperature dependence of the rate of singlet energy transfer in a three-component truxene-bridged dyads

We report a truxene-based dyad built upon one donor (tri-meso-phenylzinc(II)porphyrin) and two acceptors (octa-β-alkylporphyrin free base) in which the donor exhibits free rotation around a Ctruxene-Cmeso single bond at 298 K in fluid solution but not at 77 K in a glass matrix, whereas the acceptors have very limited motion as they are blocked by β-methyl groups. This case is interesting because all the structural and spectroscopic parameters affecting the rate for singlet energy transfer according to a Förster Resonance Energy Transfer are only weakly temperature dependent, leaving only the Dexter mechanism explaining the larger variation in rate of energy transfers with the temperature hence providing a circumstantial evidence for a dual mechanism (Föster and Dexter) in truxene-based dyads (or polyads) in the S1 excited states.

Antenna effects in truxene-bridged BODIPY triarylzinc(ii)porphyrin dyads: evidence for a dual Dexter–Förster mechanism

BODIPY uses the truxene bridge to transfer its S₁ energy to the zinc(ii)porphyrin acceptors via a Dexter mechanism almost exclusively.

Decoupling the artificial special pair to slow down the rate of singlet energy transfer

Trimer 2, composed of a cofacial heterobismacrocycle, octamethyl-porphyrin zinc(II) and bisarylporphyrin zinc(II) held by an anthracenyl spacer, and a flanking acceptor, bisarylporphyrin free-base ( Ar = -3,5-(t Bu )2 C 6 H 3), has been studied by means of absorption spectroscopy, "steady state and time-resolved fluorescence" and fs transient absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) in order to assess the effect of decoupling the chromophores' low energy MOs on the rate of the singlet, S1, energy transfer, k ET , compared to a recently reported work on a heavily coupled trimeric system, Trimer 1, [biphenylenebis(n-nonyl)porphyrin zinc(II)]-bisarylporphyrin free-base ( Ar = -3,5-(t Bu )2 C 6 H 3). The position of the 0–0 peaks of the absorption and fluorescence spectra of Trimer 2 indicates that these porphyrin units are respectively energy donor 1, donor 2, and acceptor. The DFT computations confirm that the MOs of the cofacial donor 1-donor 2 dyad are decoupled, but significant MO coupling between donor 2 and acceptor 1 is still present despite the strong dihedral angle between their respective average planes (77.5°: geometry optimization by DFT). The fs transient absorption spectra exhibit a clear S1–Sn fingerprint of the bisarylporphyrin zinc(II) chromophore and the kinetic trace exhibits a slow rise time of 87 ps, due to a S1 donor 1 → donor 2 ET. The transient species donor 2 and acceptor decay respectively in the short (~1.5) ns and 6 ns time scale.

Bis- and trisporphyrin bio-inspired models for bacterial antennas and photosystems

This review presents the synthetic aspects and photophysical properties of trimeric systems constructed with a first unit consisting of a cofacial porphyrin and then of another porphyrin attached as a side arm. Two scenarios are dealt with. The first one is the case where the three chromophores are different, called donor 1–donor 2–acceptor, specifically where the cofacial fragment is composed of donor 1 and donor 2, and the side arm is the acceptor. They are considered as models for the apo-proteins used in the LH II (light harvesting device) in the purple photosynthetic bacteria. The second one is the case where the chromophores of the cofacial bisporphyrin residue are identical and are closely placed to each other for inter-ring π-interactions. The side arm is simply a mono-porphyrin, and therefore it is different. The cofacial bisporphyrin unit exhibits then similar characteristics to the special pairs located within the reaction center protein, and are designated as artificial special pairs. On the synthetic standpoint, the various pathways to access such models are presented fully exploiting the Suzuki methodology. On the photophysical side, a large emphasis will be placed on the singlet energy transfers. Cascade processes in the trimers donor 1–donor 2–acceptor are presented and each individual contributions donor 1 → donor 2; donor 2 → acceptor; donor → acceptor are addressed qualitatively and quantitatively. For the artificial special pairs flanked with an antenna, the effect of the spacer between the artificial special pair and the antenna will be discussed as well as the choice of substituents and metal demonstrating that one can reverse the orientation of the singlet energy transfer: artificial special pair → side arm or side arm → artificial special pair. Finally, the antenna effect are presented for one example of artificial special pair equipped with 6 semi-flexible dendritic antennas.

Through space singlet-singlet and triplet-triplet energy transfers in cofacial bisporphyrins held by the carbazoyl spacer

The through space singlet-singlet and triplet-triplet energy transfers in cofacial bis(etio-porphyrins) rigidly held by the carbazoyl spacer were investigated. The studies on singlet-singlet transfer, which operates via a Förster mechanism, were performed using the zinc porphyrin and free base chromophores as energy donor and acceptor, respectively, while the investigation on triplet-triplet processes was performed using the palladium porphyrin, and the zinc porphyrin and free base chromophores as donor and acceptors, respectively. The rate for singlet-singlet transfer ( k ET ( singlet )) is unexpectedly slower than that reported for other similar, rigidly held bisporphyrins such as H 2( DPO ) Zn ( DPO = 4,6- bis [5-(2,8,13,17- tetraethyl -3,7,12,18- tetramethylporphyrinyl )] dibenzofuran ) and H 2( DPS ) Zn ( DPS = 4,6- bis [5-(2,8,13,17- tetraethyl -3,7,12,18- tetramethyl - porphyrinyl )] dibenzothiophene )). This slower rate is interpreted by the presence of the H -atom exactly located between the two meso-carbons in the dyads. The rates for triplet-triplet transfer are also slow but not too different from that recently reported for H 2( DPX ) Pd ( DPX = 4,5- bis [5-(2,8,13,17- tetraethyl -3,7,12,18- tetramethylporphyrinyl )]-9,9- dimethylxanthene ) and H 2( DPB ) Pd ( DPB = 1,8- bis [5-(2,8,13,17- tetraethyl -3,7,12,18- tetramethylporphyrinyl )] biphenylene ) at 77 K. In such cases, the slow rate is interpreted by a through space energy transfer pathway which operates according to a (small range) Dexter mechanism (since the Förster mechanism is inoperative for triplet-triplet processes). The k ET (triplet) increases at 298 K which is tentatively interpreted by favorable excited state distortions in the triplet state and fluxion processes which ease intramolecular transfers for these dyads in fluid solution in comparison with former glassy matrices.

Syntheses and characterization of a series of oxacalix[4]arene-linked cofacial bisporphyrins

A series of oxacalix[4]arene-linked cofacial bisporphyrins 2–4 have been synthesized as free-bases, biszinc(II) and biscopper(II) complexes. UV-vis, fluorescence and cyclic voltammetric studies were performed on the bisporphyrins. Little electronic interactions between the two porphyrin macrocycles in both the metal-free and biszinc(II) complexes 2 and 3 were observed, while enhanced electronic communications were observed in the case of 4 bearing two copper(II) metal ions. Geometry optimizations were carried out using HF/CEP-31G methods to investigate the molecular structures of these bisporphyrins. Solvent effects on the photophysical properties of these bisporphyrins are also discussed.

Singlet and triplet energy transfers in tetra-(meso-truxene)zinc(II)- and tetra-(meso-tritruxene)zinc(II) porphyrin and porphyrin-free base dendrimers

The synthesis, optical properties, and energy transfer features of four dendrimers composed of meso-tetrasubstituted zinc(II) porphyrin (ZnP) or a free base (P) central core, where the substituents are four truxene (Tru) or four tritruxene dendrons (TriTru), TruP, TriTruP, TruZnP, and TriTruZnP, are reported. Selective excitation of the truxene donors results in a photoinduced singlet energy transfer from the truxenes to the porphyrin acceptor. The rates for singlet energy transfer (k(ET)), evaluated from the change in the fluorescence lifetime of the donors (Tru and TriTru) in the presence and absence of the acceptor (P or ZnP) for TruP, TruZnP, TriTruP, and TriTruZnP, are 5.9, 1.2, 0.87, and 0.74 (ns)(-1) at 298 K and 2.6, 2.6, 2.7, and 1.2 (ns)(-1) at 77 K, respectively. A slow triplet-triplet energy transfer from truxene to porphyrin cores in glassy 2MeTHF at 77 K is also reported with rates of 1.3 × 10(3) and 0.10 × 10(2) s(-1) for TruZnP and TriTruZnP, respectively. If the Dexter mechanism for the triplet energy transfers is considered, these slow rates are easily explained by a poor orbital overlap between the truxene and porphyrin π systems. The fluorescence quantum yields (Φ(F)) are 0.20 and 0.16 for TruP and TriTruP and 0.08 and 0.10 for TruZnP and TriTruZnP, respectively at 298 K. At 298 K, a phosphorescence from TruZnP at 795 nm was also observed and is associated with the ZnP chromophore.

Comments on the through-space singlet energy transfers and energy migration (exciton) in the light harvesting systems

Recent findings on the photophysical investigations of several cofacial bisporphyrin dyads for through space singlet and triplet energy transfers raised several serious questions about the mechanism of the energy transfers and energy migration in the light harvesting devices, notably LH II, in the heavily studied purple photosynthetic bacteria. The key issue is that for simple cofacial or slipped dyads with controlled geometry using rigid spacers or spacers with limited flexibilities, the fastest possible rates for singlet energy transfer for three examples are in the 10 x 10(9)s(-1) (i.e. just in the 100 ps time scale) for donor-acceptor distances approaching 3.5-3.6 A. The reported time scale for energy transfers between different bacteriochlorophylls, notably B800*-->B850, is in the picosecond time scale despite the long Mg...Mg separation of approximately 18 A. Such a short rate drastically contrasts with the well accepted Förster theory. This article reviews the modern knowledge of the structure, bacteriochlorophyll a transition moments, and photophysical processes and dynamics in LH II, and compares these parameters with the recently investigated model bisporphyrin dyads build upon octa-etio-porphyrin chromophores and rigid and semi-rigid spacers. The recently discovered role of the rhodopin glucoside residue called carotenoid will be commented as the possible relay for energy transfer, including the possibility of uphill processes at room temperature. In this context, the concept of energy migration, called exciton, may also be affected by relays and uphill processes. Also, it is becoming more and more apparent that the presence of an irreversible electron transfer reaction at the reaction center, i.e. electron transfer from the special pair to the phyophytin macrocycle and so on, renders the rates for energy transfer and migration more rapid precluding all possibility of back transfers.

Unsymmetrical Calix[4]arene Bisporphyrin Pacman

[structure: see text] The synthesis of a Pacman heterobisporphyrin associating an octaethyl porphyrinatozinc (ZnOEP) energy donor and a triaryl porphyrinatozinc (ZntPP) energy acceptor around a calix[4]arene spacer is described. Contrary to previous symmetrical architectures, correlations between the chromophores in the unsymmetrical calixarene bisporphyrin Pacman scaffold can now be observed in ROESY experiments. Independent of the excitation wavelength, only the luminescence of the ZntPP moiety was observed corresponding to quenching of the OEP moiety's emission.

Modulation of the Singlet−Singlet Through-Space Energy Transfer Rates in Cofacial Bisporphyrin and Porphyrin−Corrole Dyads

A new series of relatively flexible cofacial donor-acceptor dyads for singlet-singlet energy transfer with the corrole or etio-porphyrin free base and zinc porphyrin as the acceptor and donor, respectively, were synthesized and characterized (represented as (PMes2COx)ZnH3 (13), (PMes2CO)ZnH3 (14), and (PMes2CX)ZnH3 (15)) where (PMes2COx = [2-[5-(5,15-dimesitylcorrol-10-yl)-diphenylether-2'-yl]-13,17-diethyl-2,3,7,8,12,18-hexamethylporphyrin]), (PMes2CO = [5-[5-(5,15-dimesitylcorrol-10-yl)-dibenzofuran-4-yl]-13,17-diethyl-2,3,7,8,12,18-hexamethylporphyrin]), and (PMes2CX = [5-[5-(5,15-dimesitylcorrol-10-yl)-9,9-dimethylxanthen-4-yl)]-13,17-diethyl-2,3,7,8,12,18-hexamethylporphyrin]), respectively) along with the homobismacrocycles (DPOx)ZnH2 (17) and (DPOx)Zn2 (18) (where (DPOx = 2,2'-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]diphenylether) as comparison standards. The rate for energy transfer (kET) extracted by the measurements of fluorescence lifetimes are of the same order of magnitude as those recently reported for the rigidly held face-to-face dyads ((DPB)ZnH2 (1), (DPX)ZnH2 (2), (DPA)ZnH2 (3), (DPO)ZnH2 (4), and (DPS)ZnH2 (5) where (DPB = 1,8-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]biphenylene), (DPX = 4,5-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]-9,9-dimethylxanthene), (DPA = 1,8-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]anthracene), (DPO = 4,6-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]dibenzofuran), and (DPS = 4,6-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]dibenzothiophene), respectively), but for the first time, it is shown that the presence of a bulky group located between the acceptor and the donor moiety influences the transfer rate. The presence of perpendicular mesityl groups on the acceptor macrocycle prevents the two macrorings from interacting strongly; therefore, kET is slower. On the other hand, by rendering the rigid spacer flexible (i.e., changing the dibenzofuran rigid spacer to the flexible diphenylether assembling fragment), kET increases due to stronger intermacrocycle interactions. This study is complemented by DFT computations (B3LYP/3-21G*) as a molecular modeling tool where subtle structural features explain the changes in kET. During the course of this study, X-ray structures of 17 and 18 were investigated and exhibit a linear stacking of the bismacrocycles where intermolecular porphyrin-porphyrin interactions are observed (dinter(Zn...Zn) = 4.66 and 4.57 A, for 17 and 18, respectively).

Pyridylporphyrin metallacycles with a slipped cofacial geometry: spectroscopic, X-ray, and photophysical characterization

Treatment of the octahedral Ru(II) complex [trans,cis,cis-RuCl(2)(DMSO-O)(2)(CO)(2)] with an equimolar amount of 5,10-bis(3'-pyridyl)-15,20-diphenylporphyrin (3'-cis-DPyP) yielded, upon selective replacement of the DMSO ligands, the neutral 2 + 2 metallacycle 2. NMR spectroscopy provided unambiguous evidence that only one highly symmetrical species, in which the two chromophores are held in a slipped cofacial arrangement by the external Ru(II) metal fragments, exists in solution. The unprecedented geometry of 2, and of the fully zincated analogue 2a, were confirmed in the solid state by X-ray structural investigations. The spatial arrangement of the two parallel chromophores in 2, with an interplanar distance of 4.18 A and a lateral offset (center-to-center distance) of 9.82 A, is reminiscent of those of the special pair of bacteriophylls in the reaction centers and of adjacent B850 units in the LH2 light-harvesting antenna systems of photosynthetic bacteria. For comparison, the X-ray structure of the corresponding metallacycle with 4'-cis-DPyP, 1a, is also reported. In 1a, the two porphyrins have an almost perfect coplanar arrangement. The semi-zincated metallacycles 1b and 2b, in which only one of the two chromophores bears an inner zinc atom, were prepared from 1 and 2, respectively, and isolated in pure form. Detailed photophysical investigations of the above porphyrin assemblies were performed. In particular, very fast photoinduced intercomponent energy transfer processes from the zinc porphyrin to the free-base unit were detected in the semi-metalated derivatives 1b and 2b (time constants: 14 and 12 ps, respectively).

Synthesis and photophysical properties of meso-substituted bisporphyrins: comparative study of phosphorescence quenching for dioxygen sensing

The 4,6-bis(10-mesityl-5,15-di-p-tolylporpyrinyl)dibenzothiophene (H4DPSN) free base was obtained in five steps from commercially available materials. The metalation of DPSN2- with zinc(II), copper(II), and palladium(II) led to three new homobimetallic systems, (Zn)2DPSN, (Cu)2DPSN, and (Pd)2DPSN, respectively. The cofacial structures of these molecules offer the possibility of having dioxygen molecules inside the cavity for a period of time, allowing dynamic (collisional) phosphorescence quenching to be more efficient. The bimolecular excited-state deactivation rate constant for deactivation by dioxygen (kQ: (Pd)2DPB, 2.98x10(9); (Pd)2DPSN, 3.99x10(9); (Pd)2DPX, 6.94x10(9); (Pd)TPP, 8.95x10(9); (Pd)2DPS, 8.95x10(9) M-1 s-1) of (Pd)2DPSN, which exhibits an intense phosphorescence at 699 nm, was compared to those observed for (Pd)TPP, (Pd)2DPS, (Pd)2DPX, and (Pd)2DPB (TPP2-=tetraphenylporphyrin dianion, DPS4-=4,6-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]dibenzothiophene tetraanion, DPX4-=4,5-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]-9,9-dimethylxanthene tetraanion, and DPB4-=1,8-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]biphenylene tetraanion). These collision-induced deactivation data were interpreted by estimating a series of physical parameters such as the surface area and bisporphyrin radii, the diffusion coefficient of the bismacrocycles, and the theoretical deactivation efficiency for the five compounds addressing the role of steric hindrance of the macrocycles on each other and the aryl groups at the meso positions. For sensing purposes, (Pd)2DPX is characterized by a Stern-Volmer constant kSV of 2.91x10(6) M-1, placing the lower detection limit for [O2] in solution at 0.58 ppm, which is better than that for (Pd)TPP (kSV=2.31x10(6) M-1; lower detection limit of 0.73 ppm), the classically used monoporphyrin complex.

Intramolecular Triplet Energy Transfer in Donor–Acceptor Molecules Linked by a Crown Ether Bridge

Bichromophoric compounds BP-C-NP and BP-C-NBD were synthesized with benzophenone chromophore (BP) as the donor, and 2-naphthyl (NP) and norbornadiene group (NBD) as the acceptor, respectively. Their intramolecular triplet energy transfer was examined. The bridges linking the donor and acceptors in these molecules involve a crown ether moiety complexing a sodium ion. Phosphorescence quenching, flash photolysis and photosensitized isomerization experiments indicate that intramolecular triplet energy transfer occurs with rate constants of about 3.3 x 10(5) and 4.8 x 10(5) s(-1) and efficiencies of about 33 and 42 % for BP-C-NP and BP-C-NBD, respectively. Theoretical calculations indicate that these molecules adopt conformations below room temperature which allow their two-end chromophores conducive to through-space energy transfer.

Triplet Excitation Energy Transfer in Porphyrin-Based Donor−Bridge−Acceptor Systems with Conjugated Bridges of Varying Length: An Experimental and DFT Study

A series of donor--bridge--acceptor (D--B--A) systems with varying donor-acceptor distances have been studied with respect to their triplet energy transfer properties. The donor and acceptor moieties, zinc(II), and free-base porphyrin, respectively, were separated by 2-5 oligo-p-phenyleneethynylene units (OPE) giving rise to edge-to-edge separations ranging between 12.7 and 33.4 A. The study was performed in 2-MTHF at 150 K and it was established that triplet excitation energy transfer occurs with high efficiency in all of the studied D--B--A systems. The distance dependence was exponential with an attenuation factor, beta, equal to 0.45 +/- 0.015 A(-1). The experimental study was also supported by quantum mechanical DFT and TD-DFT calculations on a series of closely related model systems. A thorough analysis of the OPE-bridge conformational dynamics led to an equation that quantitatively models the distance dependence of the electronic coupling found in the experimental study.

Electrochemically Triggered Open and Closed Pacman Bis-metalloporphyrins

A new type of very compact Pacman bis-porphyrin scaffold has been obtained in which a calix[4]arene spacer provides both cofacial preorganization and flexibility. Changes in the distance between the two tetrapyrrolic macrocycles can be triggered by electrochemistry, where closed and open conformers can be interconverted in a handclapping motion.

Photophysical Properties of a Rhodium Tetraphenylporphyrin-tin Corrole Dyad. The First Example of a Through Metal–Metal Bond Energy Transfer†

The luminescence spectroscopy study and the determination of the photophysical parameters for the M-M'-bonded rhodium meso-tetraphenylporphyrin-tin(2,3,7,13,17,18-hexamethyl-8,12-diethylcorrole) complex, (TPP)Rh-Sn(Me6Et2Cor) 1, was investigated. The emission bands as well as the lifetimes (tau(e)) and the quantum yields (Phi(e); at 77 K using 2MeTHF as solvent) were compared with those of (TPP)RhI 2 (TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin) and (Me6Et2Cor)SnCl 3 (Me6Et2Cor = 2,3,7,13,17,18-hexamethyl-8,12-diethylcorrole) which are the two chemical precursors of 1. The energy diagram has been established from the absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra. The Rh(TPP) and Sn(Me6Et2Cor) chromophores are the energy donor (D) and acceptor (A), respectively. The total absence of fluorescence in 1 (while fluorescence is observed in the tin derivative 3) indicates efficient excited state deactivation, presumably due to heavy atom effect and intramolecular energy transfer (ET). The large decreases in tau(P) and Phi(P) of the Rh(TPP) chromophore going from 2 to 1 indicate a significant intramolecular ET in the triplet states of 1 with an estimated rate ranging between 10(6) and 10(8) s(-1). Based on the comparison of transfer rates with other related dyads that exhibit similar D-A separations and no M-M' bond, and for which slower through space ET processes (10(2)-10(3) s(-1)) operate, a through M-M' bond ET has been unambiguously assigned to 1.