A Versatile Bis-Porphyrin Tweezer Host for the Assembly of Noncovalent Photoactive Architectures: A Photophysical Characterization of the Tweezers and Their Association with Porphyrins and Other Guests

Pyrene fluorescence in 2,7-di(4-phenylethynyl)pyrene-bridged bis(alkenylruthenium) complexes

Complexes PyrDPE-RuCl and PyrDPE-Ruacac with a π-extended 2,7-di(4-phenylethynyl)pyrene linker undergo simultaneous one-electron oxidations of their {Ru}-styryl entities. The absence of an intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) band at intermediate stages, where the mixed-valent, singly oxidized radical cation is present, and spin density confinement to the terminal styryl ruthenium site(s) are tokens of a lack of electronic coupling between the {Ru} entities across the π-conjugated linker. The close similarity of the linker-based π → π* bands in the complexes and the free ligand and their insensitivity towards oxidations at the terminal sites indicate that the central pyrenyl fluorophore is electronically decoupled from the electron-rich {Ru}-styryl termini. As a consequence, the complexes offer stable pyrene-based fluorescence emissions at 77 K, which are red-shifted from that of the linker.

Control of Photoinduced Electron Transfer Using Complex Formation of Water-Soluble Porphyrin and Polyvinylpyrrolidone

Inspired by the natural photosynthetic system in which proteins control the electron transfer from electron donors to acceptors, in this research, artificial polymers were tried to achieve this control effect. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was found to form complex with pigments 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (TPPS) and its zinc complex (ZnTPPS) quantitatively through different interactions (hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds, respectively). These complex formations hinder the interaction between ground-state TPPS or ZnTPPS and an electron acceptor (methyl viologen, MV2+) and could control the photoinduced electron transfer from TPPS or ZnTPPS to MV2+, giving more electron transfer products methyl viologen cationic radical (MV+•). Other polymers such as PEG did not show similar results, indicating that PVP plays an important role in controlling the photoinduced electron transfer.

Macrocyclic Receptors for Identification and Selective Binding of Substrates of Different Nature

Molecular recognition of host/guest molecules represents the basis of many biological processes and phenomena. Enzymatic catalysis and inhibition, immunological response, reproduction of genetic information, biological regulatory functions, the effects of drugs, and ion transfer-all these processes include the stage of structure recognition during complexation. The goal of this review is to solicit and publish the latest advances in the design and sensing and binding abilities of porphyrin-based heterotopic receptors with well-defined geometries, the recognition ability of which is realized due to ionic, H-bridge, charge transfer, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic interactions. The dissection of the considered low-energy processes at the molecular scale expands our capabilities in the development of effective systems for controlled recognition, selective delivery, and prolonged release of substrates of different natures (including drugs) to their sites of functioning.

Nucleosides as organizing agents

In the present review, we discuss the results of the research we have done over the last decade on multi-porphyrinic architectures bearing a nucleotidic backbone, compare all the data, offer a novel overview, and emphasize common capabilities of nucleosides appearing in various systems, providing a new insight on the pre-organizing capabilities of nucleosidic backbones. The efficiency of nucleosides as pre-organizing agents was investigated through the synthesis and study of various bis-porphyrins bearing nucleosidic linkers, as well as through the investigation of the conformation of linear and arborescent multi-porphyrins constructed on a nucleosidic backbone. The capacity of these molecules to complex guests with a high association constant was used as a tool to evaluate their degree of pre-organization, as well as the investigation of the electronic coupling existing between their chromophores and their photo-chemical capacities. Such an overview of one decade of scientific investigations documents the fact that rigid linkers between chromophores are not necessary for their spatial pre-organization, opening new routes to the faster synthesis of flexible highly pre-organized molecular architectures avoiding the long and tedious synthesis of rigid tweezers, especially for the preparation of rigid linkers which may bring solubility and stability problems.

Investigation by NMR spectroscopy of the structural characteristics of modified oligo-nucleotides with pendant porphyrins

During the past years, we focused on exerting control over the position and distance of porphyrins along our specifically designed oligonucleotidic scaffold. Indeed, in naturally occurring light-harvesting complexes, biopolymer scaffolds hold pigments at intermolecular distances that optimize photon capture, electronic coupling, and energy transfer. To this end, four uridine-porphyrin conjugates (a monomer, a dimer, a tetramer and an octamer) were subjected to a comprehensive conformational analysis by using NMR spectroscopy. The collected NOE NMR data highlighted characteristic and strong interactions indicating that the glycosidic angle between the ribose and uracil base is anti. In order to further investigate the conformation of this family of molecules, NMR experiments were carried out at variable temperatures. At low temperature, the signals of the porphyrinic protons decoalesce, showing two sets of [Formula: see text]-pyrrolic protons. Similar observations are made for signals corresponding to sugar moieties and especially the H1′ protons, indicating molecular motions within our porphyrin-uridin arrays. These results testify in favor of the existence of a dynamic process between C3′-endo and C2′-endo conformations.

Metalloporphyrin Dimers Bridged by a Peptoid Helix: Host-Guest Interaction and Chiral Recognition

Co-facial porphyrins have been designed to construct porphyrin tweezers with versatile molecular recognition capabilities. In this study, we synthesized metalloporphyrin–peptoid conjugates (MPPCs) displaying two metalloporphyrins on a peptoid scaffold with either achiral unfolded (1) or helical (2 and 3) secondary structures. Host–guest complexation of MPPCs was realized with various guests of different lengths and basicities, and the extent of complexation was measured by UV-vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic titration. Intermolecular and intramolecular chirality induction were observed on achiral and chiral peptoid backbones, respectively. Spectroscopic data indicated that a broad scope of achiral guests can be recognized by chiral 2; in particular, longer and more flexible guests were seen to bind more tightly on 2. In addition, chiral 2 provided a distinct CD couplet with dl-, d-, or l-Lys-OMe, which was a result of the diastereomeric host–guest complex formation. Our results indicated that MPPCs can recognize, contrast, and analyze various achiral, chiral, or racemic molecules. Based on co-facial metalloporphyrins present on peptoid scaffolds, we developed a novel class of porphyrin tweezers, which can be further utilized in asymmetric catalysis, molecular sensing, and drug delivery.

Energy Transfer in Dendritic Systems Having Pyrene Peripheral Groups as Donors and Different Acceptor Groups

In this feature article, a specific overview of resonance energy transfer (FRET) in dendritic molecules was performed. We focused mainly on constructs bearing peripheral pyrene groups as donor moieties using different acceptor groups, such as porphyrin, fullerene C60, ruthenium-bipyridine complexes, and cyclen-core. We have studied the effect of all the different donor-acceptor pairs in the energy transfer efficiency (FRET). In all cases, high FRET efficiency values were observed.

Tetrakis(ethyl-4(4-butyryl)oxyphenyl)porphyrinato zinc complexes with 4,4'-bpyridin: synthesis, characterization, and its catalytic degradation of Calmagite

This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of a new porphyrins complex:[Zn(TEBOP)(4,4'-bpy)](4,4'-bipyridine)(5,10,15,20-(tetraethyl-4(4-butyryl)oxyphenyl)porphyrinato)zinc(ii) (3). Single crystal X-ray diffraction, photophysical and electrochemical characteristics were studied. The prepared complex, penta-coordinated zinc(ii) porphyrin derivatives shows moderate ruffling distortion and the zinc atom is nearly planar with the porphyrin core. Tolyl and ethyl-4(4-butyryl)oxyphenyl) moieties at the meso positions present a bathochromic shift of the absorption bands, and a notable increase in the absorption coefficient of the Q(0,0) and Q(0,1) bands was observed with a higher fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime compared with the free base porphyrin. The electrochemical investigation shows a reversible reduction of the synthesized complexes. The catalytic power and the adsorption properties of the prepared complexes were studied for Calmagite degradation, an azoic organic dye. The results reveal that the studied compounds could be used as catalysts for the decolourisation of dyes in the presence of H2O2.

Efficiency of Dinucleosides as the Backbone to Pre-Organize Multi-Porphyrins and Enhance Their Stability as Sandwich Type Complexes with DABCO

Flexible linkers such as uridine or 2′-deoxyuridine pre-organize bis-porphyrins in a face-to-face conformation, thus forming stable sandwich complexes with a bidentate base such as 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). Increased stability can be even greater when a dinucleotide linker is used. Such pre-organization increases the association constant by one to two orders of magnitude when compared to the association constant of DABCO with a reference porphyrin. Comparison with rigid tweezers shows a better efficiency of nucleosidic dimers. Thus, the choice of rigid spacers is not the only way to pre-organize bis-porphyrins, and well-chosen nucleosidic linkers offer an interesting option for the synthesis of such devices.

Flexible Metal-Porphyrin Dimers (M=MnIII Cl, CoII , NiII , CuII ): Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry, Spectroelectrochemistry, and Theoretical Calculations

Four metalloporphyrin dimers linked by bridging amide-bonded xanthene moieties and that contain either Mn^III , Co^II , Ni^II , or Cu^II metal centers were synthesized. Various spectroscopic, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical methods were used to study trends in their properties. Their electronic structure and optical properties were analyzed through a comparison of the electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectral data with the results of time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations.

Pre-organized dinucleosides with pendant porphyrins for the formation of sandwich type complexes with DABCO with high association constants

We report herein the synthesis of a dinucleotide bearing pendant porphyrins dedicated to adopt a pre-organized coformation with face-to-face porphyrins, and capable to self-organize in a stable sandwich type complexe with bidentate base such as DABCO. Earlier studies demonstrated that a peptidic linker does not provide sufficient pre-organization to enhance significantly the association constant with bidentate bases such as DABCO on the contrary of some other flexible linkers such as uridine or 2′-deoxyuridine. We document herein that the gain in stability for the formation of sandwich type host–guest complex with DABCO can be even greater when a dinucleotide linker is used. Such pre-organization increases the association constants by one to two orders of magnitude when compared to the association constants of the same bidentate ligands with a reference Zn(II) porphyrin. Comparison of these results with those obtained for rigid tweezers shows a better efficiency of the flexible nucleosidic dimers. We thus document the fact that the choice of rigid spacers is not the only way to pre-organize bis-porphyrins, and that some well-chosen nucleosidic linkers offer an interesting option for the synthesis of such devices. Furthermore, the chirality and enantio-purity of the nucleosidic linkers paves the way toward the selective complexation of enantio-pure bidentate guests and the resolution of racemates.

Aggregation-controlled excimer emission in an axial anthracene–Sn(iv)porphyrin–anthracene triad in the solid and solution phases

An anthracene–porphyrin donor–acceptor triad has been synthesized and its photophysical properties along with excimer behavior are investigated.

Design of novel luminescent porphyrins bearing donor–acceptor groups

In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel series of porphyrins, some of them bearing donor-acceptor groups. meso-substituted free-base porphyrins:5-(4-amino-phenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (TPPNH2) and 5-(4-acetamidophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (TPPNHAc), as well as their tribromo (Br3TPPNH2 and Br3TPPNHAc) and trimethylsilyl-substituted homologs (TMS3TPPNH2 and TMS3TPPNHAc were synthesized and characterized. The optical properties of all compounds have been studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations were performed in order to recognize the optimized geometry and the correlation with the optical properties. On the other hand, an azobenzene containing porphyrin (TPPN2PhC14H29) was also prepared to study the influence of the trans-cis photoisomerization on its optical properties. Almost all porphyrin derivatives exhibited a Soret band at ca. λ = 419–422 nm followed by four Q-bands in the range between 500–700 nm. Besides, these porphyrins showed two emission bands located at ca. λ = 654 nm and 714 nm with different intensities, depending on the substituents. The relative quantum yields were calculated for these compounds with respect to the most emissive species.

Theoretical study of novel azo-tetraphenylporphyrins: potential photovoltaic materials

A density functional theory study was performed to analyze the electron donor-acceptor properties of the cis and trans isomers of a novel azobenzene-containing tetraphenylporphyrin (TPPN2PhC14H29) with different substituents (Br or TMS). In general, the trans isomers are better electron acceptors than the correspondent cis homologues. Their UV-vis spectra were also obtained and a comparison with available experimental results is included. According to these results, the azo compounds reported here are promising materials for the elaboration of dye-sensitized solar cells because their HOMO-LUMO gaps are close to 2 eV. Moreover, the energy of the high intensity absorption bands also fulfills the requirements needed for the operation of a solar cell built with TiO2 and the I(-)/I3(-) pair.

Coordination chemistry-assembled multicomponent systems built from a gable-like bis-porphyrin: synthesis and photophysical properties

Multiporphyrinic assemblies were quantitatively formed, in one step, from a gable-like zinc(II) bis-porphyrin ZnP2 and free-base porphyrins bearing pyridyl groups. The different fragments are held together by axial 4'-N(pyridyl)-Zn interactions. Formation of a macrocycle ZnP2 •(4'-cisDPyP) and a bis-macrocycle (ZnP2 )2 •(TPyP) is discussed. The macrocycle and the bis-macrocycle were crystallized and studied by X-ray diffraction, which confirmed the excellent complementarity between the various components. Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric titrations and studies reveal high association constants for both multiporphyrinic assemblies due to the almost perfect geometrical match between the interacting units. As expected, energy transfer from the zinc porphyrin component to the free-base porphyrin quenches the fluorescence of the zinc porphyrin components in both compounds. But while in ZnP2 •(4'-cis DPyP) sensitization of the emission of the free-base porphyrin was observed, in (ZnP2)2 •(TPyP) excitation of the peripheral Zn porphyrin units does not lead to quantitative sensitization of the luminescence of the free-base porphyrin acceptor. An unusual HOMO-HOMO electron transfer reaction from ZnP2 to the excited TPyP unit was detected and studied.

NIR emission of cyclic [4]rotaxanes containing π-extended porphyrin chromophores

The photophysical properties of a Cu(I) [4]rotaxane 4(4+) and of the demetalated [4]rotaxane 3 have been determined and compared to those of the component Zn porphyrin 2. All samples emit in the NIR region (700-1200 nm). The luminescence from the interlocked structures is bathochromically shifted with respect to 2 and displays a lower emission quantum yield, much lower for 4(4+) than for 3. The occurrence of intra-molecular electron or energy transfer is excluded and the decrease in luminescence yield is discussed in terms of the energy gap law and of electronic interactions between components of the cyclic interlocked structure. In toluene a dual emission behavior, similar to that of 2, is observed for 3 and ascribed to the presence of two non-equilibrated excited states, π-π* and CT in nature with lifetimes of 0.80 and 0.14 ns, respectively.

Synthesis and characterization of novel pyrene-dendronized porphyrins exhibiting efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer: optical and photophysical properties

A novel series of pyrene dendronized porphyrins bearing two and four pyrenyl groups (Py(2)-TMEG1 and Py(4)-TMEG2) were successfully synthesized. First and second generation Fréchet type dendrons (Py(2)-G1OH and Py(4)-G2OH) were prepared from 1-pyrenylbutanol and 3,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol. These compounds were further linked to a trimesitylphenylporphyrin containing a butyric acid spacer via an esterification reaction to obtain the desired products. Dendrons and dendronized porphyrins were fully characterized by FTIR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy and their molecular weights were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Their optical and photophysical properties were studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. The formation of dynamic excimers was detected in the pyrene-labeled dendrons, with more excimer being produced in the higher generation dendron. The fluorescence spectra of the pyrene dendronized porphyrins exhibited a significant decrease in the amount of pyrene monomer and excimer emission, jointly with the appearance of a new emission band at 661 nm characteristic of porphyrin emission, an indication that fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurred from one of the excited pyrene species to the porphyrin. The FRET efficiency was found to be almost quantitative ranging between 97% and 99% depending on the construct. Model Free analysis of the fluorescence decays acquired with the pyrene monomer, excimer, and porphyrin core established that only residual pyrene excimer formation in the dendrons could occur before FRET from the excited pyrene monomer to the ground-state porphyrin core.

Cofacial tris-porphyrins with anthracenic spacer

In order to check if the parallel orientation of the chlorophylls in the light harvesting antennae of the photosynthetic system plays a key role in the efficiency of the energy transfer process, we synthesized three rigid tris-porphyrins bearing di-ethynyl-anthracenic spacers. The synthesis of this family of trimers in which porphyrins are held in a cofacial orientation by an anthracenic spacer is here described, as well as the NMR comparison between the different porphyrinic wires. This constitutes a first step toward the elaboration of more sophisticated light collecting devices. More specifically, these trimers, in which the porphyrins are held in a parallel conformation, constitute an approach toward the synthesis of rigid molecular wires.

Polypeptides with pendant porphyrins of defined sequence of chromophores: towards artificial photosynthetic systems

In this paper we now report our ongoing progress in the preparation of artificial photosynthetic systems through the preparation of light harvesting multi-porphyrins. A tetramer, constituted of a central dipeptide functionalized by two free-base porphyrins and surrounded by one amino-acid bearing a pendant Zn ( II ) porphyrin on each side, has been chosen. The optical and photophysical properties of this tetramer have been studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. In addition, the energy transfer phenomenon has been studied and monitored by femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence. Our results indicate that the excited state dynamics redounding in the excitation being localized in the inner free-base porphyrins takes place in the time scale of approximately 1 ps.

Electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of bismanganese biscorroles dyads

Three manganese biscorrole dyads were synthesized, physicochemically characterized and investigated as to their electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in nonaqueous media. Each dyad contained the same two corroles linked in a face-to-face arrangement via one of the three different linking groups, 9,9-dimethylxanthene, anthracene or diphenylether, the exact nature of which determined the distance and possible interaction between the two metallomacrocycles. The initial compounds contained Mn ( III ) in their air stable form and were shown to exhibit two major redox processes, one being a Mn (III)/ Mn (IV) conversion and the other being either Mn ( III )/ Mn ( II ) or reduction at the conjugated macrocycle to give a Mn ( III ) corrole π-anion radical when the solvent was pyridine. The potentials and reversibility of each electron transfer reaction were shown to depend upon the solvent (pyridine, CH2Cl2 , or PhCN ), type of spacer separating the two macrocycles and/or the presence or absence of axial ligation. The site of each electron transfer was assigned on the basis of spectroscopic and electrochemical data and by comparison with reactions and properties of the monocorrole ( Mes2PhCor)Mn which was characterized in a previous publication and also examined in the current study under the same solution conditions as the newly investigated dyads. Some electrode reactions of the dyads were followed by coupled chemical reactions and these were also elucidated in the present study.

Bis-porphyrin tweezers: rigid or flexible linkers for better adjustment of the cavity to bidentate bases of various size

We report herein the binding studies of three bis-porphyrinic tweezers bearing nucleosidic linkers and a bis-porphyrinic dipeptide with two bidentate bases of different size, DABCO and 4,4' -bipyridine. In the nucleosidic series, the nucleoside confers, for two dimers out of three, sufficient preorganization to the dimers to enhance the association constants, documenting the fact that rigid dimers are not necessary for preorganization, and opening up new routes to the faster synthesis of flexible tweezers capable of complexing guests with a high association constant. Comparison of these results with those obtained for rigid tweezers shows a better efficiency of the flexible nucleosidic dimers. We thus document the fact that the choice of rigid spacers is not the only way to pre-organize bis-porphyrins, and that some well-chosen nucleosidic linkers offer an interesting option for the synthesis of such devices.

DABCO as a dynamic hinge between cofacial porphyrin panels and its tumbling inside a supramolecular cavity

The heteroleptic supramolecular double-decker porphyrin 1 was synthesized with DABCO as a guest between two cofacial porphyrin units as characterized by (1)H NMR and ESI-MS. While DABCO is not seen to tumble inside the cavity, even at higher temperatures (80 °C), such motion was triggered upon addition of various coordinating ligands (quinuclidine, 4-bromopyridine, or excess of DABCO). Different stoichiometric amounts were needed depending on the n donor quality of the added ligands to initiate tumbling of the "inside" DABCO. As demonstrated in an example with excess DABCO, the tumbling was stopped by lowering the temperature to -50 °C.

Molecular tweezers: concepts and applications

Taken to the molecular level, the concept of "tweezers" opens a rich and fascinating field at the convergence of molecular recognition, biomimetic chemistry and nanomachines. Composed of a spacer bridging two interaction sites, the behaviour of molecular tweezers is strongly influenced by the flexibility of their spacer. Operating through an "induced-fit" recognition mechanism, flexible molecular tweezers select the conformation(s) most appropriate for substrate binding. Their adaptability allows them to be used in a variety of binding modes and they have found applications in chirality signalling. Rigid spacers, on the contrary, display a limited number of binding states, which lead to selective and strong substrate binding following a "lock and key" model. Exquisite selectivity may be expressed with substrates as varied as C(60) , nanotubes and natural cofactors, and applications to molecular electronics and enzyme inhibition are emerging. At the crossroad between flexible and rigid spacers, stimulus-responsive molecular tweezers controlled by ionic, redox or light triggers belong to the realm of molecular machines, and, applied to molecular tweezing, open doors to the selective binding, transport and release of their cargo. Applications to controlled drug delivery are already appearing. The past 30 years have seen the birth of molecular tweezers; the next many years to come will surely see them blooming in exciting applications.