Efficient excitation energy transfer in long meso-meso linked Zn(II) porphyrin arrays bearing a 5,15-bisphenylethynylated Zn(II) porphyrin acceptor

Deducing the conformational space for an octa-proline helix

A molecular dyad, PY-P8-PER, comprising a proline octamer sandwiched between pyrene and perylene terminals has been synthesized in order to address the dynamics of electronic energy transfer (EET) along the oligo-proline chain. A simple pyrene-based control compound equipped with a bis-proline attachment serves as a reference for spectroscopic studies. The N-H NMR signal at the terminal pyrene allows distinction between cis and trans amides and, although the crystal structure for the control has the trans conformation, temperature-dependent NMR studies provide clear evidence for trans/cis isomerisation in D6-DMSO. Polar solvents tend to stabilise the trans structure for the pyrene amide group, even for longer oligo-proline units. Circular dichroism shows that the proline spacer for PY-P8-PER exists mainly in the all-trans geometry in methanol. Preferential excitation of the pyrene chromophore is possible at wavelengths in the 320-350 nm range and, for the dyad, is followed by efficacious EET to the perylene emitter. The probability for intramolecular EET, obtained from analysis of steady-state spectroscopic data, is ca. 80-90% in solvents of disparate polarity. Comparison with the Förster critical distance suggests the terminals are ca. 18 Å apart. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, in conjunction with DFT calculations, indicates the dyad exists as a handful of conformers displaying a narrow range of EET rates. Optimisation of a distributive model allows accurate simulation of the EET dynamics in terms of reasonable structures based on isomerisation of certain amide groups.

Thermodynamic Control of Intramolecular Singlet Fission and Exciton Transport in Linear Tetracene Oligomers

We newly synthesized a series of homo- and hetero-tetracene (Tc) oligomers to propose a molecular design strategy for the efficient exciton transport in linear oligomers by promoting correlated triplet pair (TT) dissociation and controlling sequential exciton trapping process of individual doubled triplet excitons (T+T) by intramolecular singlet fission. First, entropic gain effects on the number of Tc units are examined by comparing Tc-homo-oligomers [(Tc)_n : n=2, 4, 6]. Then, a comparison of (Tc)_n and Tc-hetero-oligomer [TcF₃ -(Tc)₄ -TcF₃ ] reveals the vibronic coupling effect for entropic gain. Observed entropic effects on the T+T formation indicated that the exciton migration is rationalized by number of possible TT states increased both by increasing the number of Tc units and by the vibronic levels at the terminal TcF₃ units. Finally, we successfully observed high-yield exciton trapping process (trapped triplet yield: Φ_TrT =176 %).

Bending a photonic wire into a ring

Natural light-harvesting systems absorb sunlight and transfer its energy to the reaction centre, where it is used for photosynthesis. Synthetic chromophore arrays provide useful models for understanding energy migration in these systems. Research has focused on mimicking rings of chlorophyll molecules found in purple bacteria, known as 'light-harvesting system 2'. Linear meso-meso linked porphyrin chains mediate rapid energy migration, but until now it has not been possible to bend them into rings. Here we show that oligo-pyridyl templates can be used to bend these rod-like photonic wires to create covalent nanorings that consist of 24 porphyrin units and a single butadiyne link. Their elliptical conformations have been probed by scanning tunnelling microscopy. This system exhibits two excited state energy transfer processes: one from a bound template to the peripheral porphyrins and one, in the template-free ring, from the exciton-coupled porphyrin array to the π-conjugated butadiyne-linked porphyrin dimer segment.

Multiple-Porphyrin Functionalized Hexabenzocoronenes

Porphyrin-hexabenzocoronene architectures serve as good model compounds to study light-harvesting systems. Herein, the synthesis of porphyrin functionalized hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes (HBCs), in which one or more porphyrins are covalently linked to a central HBC core, is presented. A series of hexaphenylbenzenes (HPBs) was prepared and reacted under oxidative coupling conditions. The transformation to the respective HBC derivatives worked well with mono- and tri-porphyrin-substituted HPBs. However, if more porphyrins are attached to the HPB core, Scholl oxidations are hampered or completely suppressed. Hence, a change of the synthetic strategy was necessary to first preform the HBC core, followed by the introduction of the porphyrins. All products were fully characterized, including, if possible, single-crystal XRD. UV/Vis absorption spectra of porphyrin-HBCs showed, depending on the number of porphyrins as well as with respect to the substitution pattern, variations in their spectral features with strong distortions of the porphyrins' B-band.

Porphyrin-Hexaphenylbenzene Conjugates via Mixed Cyclotrimerization Reactions

Mixed cyclotrimerization reactions of diarylacetylenes (tolans) were applied to generate a library of multiple porphyrin-hexaphenylbenzene (HPB) architectures. Successful reactions, which could be influenced by the ratio of tolan starting materials, were conducted using dicobaltoctacarbonyl as a catalyst. Separation of the reaction products was performed by chromatographic and crystallization techniques. The physical properties were investigated with respect to the number of porphyrins per HPB and their substitution pattern.

Investigation and Control of Single Molecular Structures of Meso- Meso Linked Long Porphyrin Arrays

We have investigated conformational structures of meso- meso linked porphyrin arrays (Z n) by single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. Modulation depths ( M values) were measured by excitation polarization fluorescence spectroscopy. The M value decreases from 0.85 to 0.46 as the number of porphyrin units increases from 3 to 128, indicating that longer arrays exhibit coiled structures. Such conformational changes depending on the length have been confirmed by coarse-grained simulation. The histograms of M values and traces of centroid position of emitting sites by localization microscopy showed that the structures of longer arrays changed to more stretched after solvent vapor annealing with tetrahydrofuran.

Synthesis of a porphyrin-hexaarylbenzene-hexabenzocoronene triad

The synthesis of a triad consisting of porphyrin and hexabenzocoronene (HBC) units, which are connected via a central hexaarylbenzene (HAB) core, is presented. The ortho substitution pattern at the core results in a close proximity of the two chromophores, which influences their properties such as the intensity ratio of UV-vis absorption bands.

Delocalized triplet state in porphyrin J-aggregates revealed by EPR spectroscopy

In this work, the electronic structure of the triplet state of self-assembled J-aggregates of tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) has been characterized by means of time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Several insights into the triplet properties of the aggregate have been gained through comparison with the corresponding monomeric unit in both free base and acidified forms. Molecular distortions in the monomeric acidified TPPS cause variation in its zero-field splitting parameters and a redirection of triplet spin sublevel activity. The aggregation process does not alter the mechanism of triplet state population compared to the acidified monomer but it is accompanied by a further reduction in the zero-field splitting parameter D, which is possibly indicative of the formation of a delocalized triplet state species. The detection of a long-lived spin-polarized radical species also proves polaron generation and movement to a trap site in the J-aggregates.

DFT and TD-DFT calculations of axially substituted tin porphyrins and an ethynyl-linked tin porphyrin dimer

Time-dependent density functional theory calculations have been employed to characterize the inter-macrocycle interactions introduced when two tin(IV) porphyrins are axially covalently bonded via an ethynyl linker. The effect of changing the relative orientations of the two metalloporphyrin macrocycles is explored, with particular attention given to electronic states at energies up to the Soret-correlated states in the dimer. Expansion of the Gouterman four orbital approach for the monomer to an eight orbital approach in the dimer produces a satisfactory analysis. The results are used to examine the feasibility of using such linked structures in photon harvesting schemes.

Photophysical properties of Sn(IV)tetraphenylporphyrin-pyrene dyad with a β-vinyl linker

A Sn (IV)tetraphenylporphyrin (T) has been functionalized with a β-vinyl pyrene (P) and the photophysical properties of the formed dyad (T-P) with its corresponding precursors were studied in three solvents with different polarities using steady-state and time-resolved measurements in ps and fs timescales. When the pyrene moiety is excited at λex = 340 nm, the fluorescence spectroscopy experiments indicate in all the studied solvents, an efficient quenching of the pyrene emission. When excited at either λex = 340 nm or λex = 405 nm, where porphyrin absorbs, a new emissive excited state complex (T-P)* is observed at wavelenghts close to the parent porphyrin emission. The emission is more pronounced in nonpolar hexane showing a mono-exponential decay, but bi-exponential decays are observed in more polar dicloromethane and acetonitrile. When the porphyrin moiety is excited at λex = 425 nm, the fs transient absorption analysis shows two different intermediate species (~ 7–11 ps and 80–100 ps) with broad absorption in the near-IR region. This implies either the existence of two different excited conformers (T-P)*, which decay to the ground state via a charge separated state (CSS), or the formation of the (T-P)* state via the second excited state of the porphyrin moiety, yielding first an excited emissive v(T-P)* state, with a lifetime of 80–100 ps.

Synthesis of directly fused porphyrin dimers through Fe(OTf)3-mediated oxidative coupling

A practical and general Fe(OTf)₃-mediated oxidative coupling method was developed for the synthesis of doubly or triply linked porphyrin dimers.

Pitfalls in bromination reactions of zinc porphyrins: two-sided ring opening of the porphyrin macrocycle

Reaction of [Zn(II)(TTP)] (1) (TTP = dianion of 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis(p-tolyl)porphyrin) with 16 equiv of N-bromosuccinamide (NBS) in methanol at reflux led to the unexpected two-sidedd open-ring brominated product [Zn(II)(C26H20N2O2Br5)2] (2). Similar observations have been made with other meso-substituted zinc porphyrins as well [Zn(II)(por)] {por = dianion of 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis(aryl)porphyrin; aryl = phenyl (TPP), p-(t)Bu-phenyl (TBPP), m-Cl-phenyl (TClPP)}. The respective products [Zn(II)(C24H16N2O2Br5)2] (3), [Zn(II)(C32H32N2O2Br5)2] (4), and [Zn(II)(C24H14N2O2Cl2Br5)2] (5) have been isolated in good to moderate yields and characterized by elemental analysis and UV-vis, (1)H NMR, and mass spectrometry. Additional bromination reaction of 1 with 8 equiv of NBS in a chloroform/methanol mixture led (after the two-sided ring opening) to nonmetalated brominated bi(pyrrole) product, C36H34N2O4Br4 (6). The detailed structures of complexes 1, 2, 3, and 6, available in a single crystal form, have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Synthesis of porphyrin-bis(polyazamacrocycle) triads via Suzuki coupling reaction

Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction has been used for the synthesis of tricyclic architectures based on trans-A2B2-porphyrins and bisaminal-protected polyazamacrocycles which are linked directly or by a p-phenylene spacer. This modular approach allowed the synthesis of ligands with various substituted porphyrin macrocycles and bisaminal-protected tetraazamacrocycles possessing different cavity sizes. These molecules can be assembled into dimers using a DABCO linker. Deprotection of these compounds afforded porphyrin-bis(polyazamacrocycle) triads.

Switchable regioselectivity in the PIFA–BF3·Et2O mediated oxidative coupling of meso-brominated Ni(ii) porphyrin

A simple and efficient method has been developed for the switchable synthesis of directly linked meso-brominated Ni(ii) porphyrin dimers through PIFA–BF₃·Et₂O mediated oxidative coupling.

Comparative electrochemical and photophysical studies of tetrathiafulvalene-annulated porphyrins and their Zn(II) complexes: the effect of metalation and structural variation

A series of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-annulated porphyrins, and their corresponding Zn(II) complexes, have been synthesized. Detailed electrochemical, photophysical, and theoretical studies reveal the effects of intramolecular charge-transfer transitions that originate from the TTF fragments to the macrocyclic core. The incremental synthetic addition of TTF moieties to the porphyrin core makes the species more susceptible to these charge-transfer (CT) effects as evidenced by spectroscopic studies. On the other hand, regular positive shifts in the reduction signals are seen in the square-wave voltammograms as the number of TTF subunits increases. Structural studies that involve the tetrakis-substituted TTF-porphyrin (both free-base and Zn(II) complex) reveal only modest deviations from planarity. The effect of TTF substitution is thus ascribed to electronic overlap between annulated TTF subunits rather than steric effects. The directly linked thiafulvalene subunits function as both π acceptors as well as σ donors. Whereas σ donation accounts for the substituent-dependent charge-transfer transitions, it is the π-acceptor nature of the appended tetrathiafulvalene groups that dominates the redox chemistry. Interactions between the subunits are also reflected in the square-wave voltammograms. In the case of the free-base derivatives that bear multiple TTF subunits, the neighboring TTF units, as well as the TTF(⋅+) generated through one-electron oxidation, can interact with each other; this gives rise to multiple signals in the square-wave voltammograms. On the other hand, after metalation, the electronic communication between the separate TTF moieties becomes restricted and they act as separate redox centers under conditions of oxidation. Thus only two signals, which correspond to TTF(⋅+) and TTF(2+), are observed. The reduction potentials are also seen to shift towards more negative values after metalation, a finding that is considered to reflect an increased HOMO-LUMO gap. To probe the excited-state dynamics and internal CT character, transient absorption spectral studies were performed. These analyses revealed that all the TTF-porphyrins of this study display relatively short excited-state lifetimes, which range from 1 to 20 ps. This reflects a very fast decay to the ground state and is consistent with the proposed intramolecular charge-transfer effects inferred from the ground-state studies. Complementary DFT calculations provide a mechanistic rationale for the electron flow within the TTF-porphyrins and support the proposed intramolecular charge-transfer interactions and π-acceptor effects.

Syntheses and excitation transfer studies of near-orthogonal free-base porphyrin-ruthenium phthalocyanine dyads and pentad

A new series of molecular dyads and pentad featuring free-base porphyrin and ruthenium phthalocyanine have been synthesized and characterized. The synthetic strategy involved reacting free-base porphyrin functionalized with one or four entities of phenylimidazole at the meso position of the porphyrin ring with ruthenium carbonyl phthalocyanine followed by chromatographic separation and purification of the products. Excitation transfer in these donor-acceptor polyads (dyad and pentad) is investigated in nonpolar toluene and polar benzonitrile solvents using both steady-state and time-resolved emission techniques. Electrochemical and computational studies suggested that the photoinduced electron transfer is a thermodynamically unfavorable process in nonpolar media but may take place in a polar environment. Selective excitation of the donor, free-base porphyrin entity, resulted in efficient excitation transfer to the acceptor, ruthenium phthalocyanine, and the position of imidazole linkage on the free-base porphyrin could be used to tune the rates of excitation transfer. The singlet excited Ru phthalocyanine thus formed instantly relaxed to the triplet state via intersystem crossing prior to returning to the ground state. Kinetics of energy transfer (k(ENT)) was monitored by performing transient absorption and emission measurements using pump-probe and up-conversion techniques in toluene, respectively, and modeled using a Förster-type energy transfer mechanism. Such studies revealed the experimental k(ENT) values on the order of 10(10)-10(11) s(-1), which readily agreed with the theoretically estimated values. Interestingly, in polar benzonitrile solvent, additional charge transfer interactions in the case of dyads but not in the case of pentad, presumably due to the geometry/orientation consideration, were observed.

Structure and excited state properties of multiporphyrin arrays formed by supramolecular design

Structurally defined nanoscale self-assembled multiporphyrin arrays of variable geo-metry and composition (up to eight tetrapyrrole macrocycles) have been formed via two-fold extra-ligation in solutions at 77-293 K. The array formation is based on non-covalent binding interactions of the phenyl bridged Zn octaethylporphyrin chemical dimers or trimers, ( ZnOEP )2 Ph or ( ZnOEP )3 Ph 2, with di- and tetrapyridyl substituted tetrapyrrole extra-ligands (porphyrin, pentafluorophenyl substituted porphyrin, Cu porphyrin, tetrahydroporphyrin). Using steady-state and time-resolved measurements, spectral properties as well as pathways and dynamics of non-radiative relaxation processes (energy migration, photoinduced electron transfer, exchange d-π effects, realized in nano-femtosecond time scale) have been studied in these complexes upon variation of the composition, mutual geometry, redox and photophysical properties of interacting subunits as well as on the tempera-ture and polarity of surrounding.

The photophysics of metalloporphyrins excited in their Soret and higher energy UV absorption bands

Photophysical processes involving the higher electronic excited states of diamagnetic porphyrins and metalloporphyrins are critically reviewed. Intramolecular electronic relaxation of one-photon Soret-excited molecules in solution is now known to involve processes other than S 2 - S 1 internal conversion; dark electronic states are implicated. Sequential two-photon excitation to produce gerade excited singlet states ( S n , n > 2) results in relaxation dynamics that are quantitatively different from those resulting from one-photon excitation to ungerade states of about the same energy. Intermolecular electron and electronic energy transfer involving Soret-excited metalloporphyrins and intramolecular electron and electronic energy transfer in Soret-excited dyads and larger arrays containing porphyrins are reviewed. Metalloporphyrins containing main group metals or transition metals with filled d orbitals exhibit relaxation dynamics that differ from metalloporphyrins containing transition metals with unfilled d orbitals. Non-linear phenomena associated with multi-photon excitation of diamagnetic metalloporphyrins are also reviewed.