π-Arene/Cation Structure and Bonding. Solvation versus Ligand Binding in Iron(III) Tetraphenylporphyrin Complexes of Benzene, Toluene, p-Xylene, and [60]Fullerene

Heavy-Metal Ions Removal and Iodine Capture by Terpyridine Covalent Organic Frameworks

Porous materials are excellent candidates for water remediation in environmental issues. However, it is still a key challenge to design efficient adsorbents for rapid water purification from various heavy metal ions-contaminated wastewater in one step. Here, two robust nitrogen-rich covalent organic frameworks (COFs) bearing terpyridine units on the pore walls by a "bottom-up" strategy are reported. Benefitting from the strong chelation interaction between the terpyridine units and various heavy metal ions, these two terpyridine COFs show excellent removal efficiency and capability for Pb2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Cd2+, Ni2+, and Cr3+ from water. These COFs are shown to remove such heavy metal ions with >90% of contents at one time after the aqueous metal ions mixture is passed through the COF filter. The nitrogen-rich features of the COFs also endow them with the capability of capturing iodine vapors, offering the terpyridine COFs the potential for environmental remediation applications.

Dioxygen Activation and Reduction by a Soluble Iron Phthalocyanine

Iron ions in a square-planar coordination can bind molecules at the vacant axial positions and are able to transform them in stoichiometric and catalytic reactions. Nature takes advantage of these properties by incorporating iron into porphyrin systems, which play a key role not only in the binding and transport of oxygen, but also in catalytic oxidation and reduction reactions involving cytochrome P450. Although these systems have been studied extensively, there are still unresolved questions regarding the interplay between the iron ions and the surrounding ligands. Phthalocyanines (Pc) create a similar environment for metal atoms and FePc is known for a long time. However, without axial ligands FePc aggregates leading to solids of low solubility. In this work we used a known six-coordinate iron phthalocyanine derivative with bulky substituents and removed the stabilizing axial ligands. The resulting paramagnetic, four-coordinate compound does not aggregate and dissolves well so that NMR spectroscopy can be employed for studying the molecular structure and the reactivity. Solvent molecules bind weakly to the iron centers and oxygen is reduced in the presence of H-atom donors. The stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity with oxygen was studied in more detail.

Activation of Dinitrogen Promoted by Adsorption of C6H6 on Fe2VC- Cluster Anions

The introduction of organic ligands is one of the effective strategies to improve the stability and reactivity of metal clusters. Herein, the enhanced reactivity of benzene-ligated cluster anions Fe₂VC(C₆H₆)^- with respect to naked Fe₂VC^- is identified. Structural characterization suggests that C₆H₆ is molecularly bound to the dual metal site in Fe₂VC(C₆H₆)^-. Mechanistic details reveal that the cleavage of N≡N is feasible in Fe₂VC(C₆H₆)^-/N₂ but hindered by an overall positive barrier in the Fe₂VC^-/N₂ system. Further analysis discloses that the ligated C₆H₆ regulates the compositions and energy levels of the active orbitals of the metal clusters. More importantly, C₆H₆ serves as an electron reservoir for the reduction of N₂ to lower the crucial energy barrier of N≡N splitting. This work demonstrates that the flexibility of C₆H₆ in terms of withdrawing and donating electrons is crucial to regulating the electronic structures of the metal cluster and enhancing the reactivity.

Self-Assembled Materials Incorporating Functional Porphyrins and Carbon Nanoplatforms as Building Blocks for Photovoltaic Energy Applications

As a primary goal, this review highlights the role of supramolecular interactions in the assembly of new sustainable materials incorporating functional porphyrins and carbon nanoplatforms as building blocks for photovoltaics advancements.

Energy cascades, excited state dynamics, and photochemistry in cob(III)alamins and ferric porphyrins

Porphyrins and the related chlorins and corrins contain a cyclic tetrapyrrole with the ability to coordinate an active metal center and to perform a variety of functions exploiting the oxidation state, reactivity, and axial ligation of the metal center. These compounds are used in optically activated applications ranging from light harvesting and energy conversion to medical therapeutics and photodynamic therapy to molecular electronics, spintronics, optoelectronic thin films, and optomagnetics. Cobalt containing corrin rings extend the range of applications through photolytic cleavage of a unique axial carbon-cobalt bond, permitting spatiotemporal control of drug delivery. The photochemistry and photophysics of cyclic tetrapyrroles are controlled by electronic relaxation dynamics including internal conversion and intersystem crossing. Typically the electronic excitation cascades through ring centered ππ* states, ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) states, metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states, and metal centered states. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for the investigation of the electronic state dynamics in metal containing tetrapyrroles. The UV-visible spectrum is sensitive to the oxidation state, electronic configuration, spin state, and axial ligation of the central metal atom. Ultrashort broadband white light probes spanning the range from 270 to 800 nm, combined with tunable excitation pulses, permit the detailed unravelling of the time scales involved in the electronic energy cascade. State-of-the-art theoretical calculations provide additional insight required for precise assignment of the states. In this Account, we focus on recent ultrafast transient absorption studies of ferric porphyrins and corrin containing cob(III)alamins elucidating the electronic states responsible for ultrafast energy cascades, excited state dynamics, and the resulting photoreactivity or photostability of these compounds. Iron tetraphenyl porphyrin chloride (Fe((III))TPPCl) exhibits picosecond decay to a metal centered d → d* (4)T state. This state decays on a ca. 16 ps time scale in room temperature solution but persists for much longer in a cryogenic glass. The photoreactivity of the (4)T state may lead to novel future applications for these compounds. In contrast, the nonplanar cob(III)alamins contain two axial ligands to the central cobalt atom. The upper axial ligand can be an alkyl group as in the two biologically active coenzymes or a nonalkyl ligand such as -CN in cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) or -OH in hydroxocobalamin. The electronic structure, energy cascade, and bond cleavage of these compounds is sensitive to the details of the axial ligand. Nonalkylcobalamins exhibit ultrafast internal conversion to a low-lying state of metal to ligand or ligand to metal charge transfer character. The compounds are generally photostable with ground state recovery complete on a time scale of 2-7 ps in room temperature aqueous solution. Alkylcobalamins exhibit ultrafast internal conversion to an S1 state of d/π → π* character. Most compounds undergo bond cleavage from this state with near unit quantum yield within ∼100 ps. Recent theoretical calculations provide a potential energy surface accounting for these observations. Conformation dependent mixing of the corrin π and cobalt d orbitals plays a significant role in the observed photochemistry and photophysics.

Phthalocyanines and porphyrins as materials

Several recent studies of phthalocyanines and porphyrins as materials in emerging technologies are reviewed here. Emphasis is placed on the use of these materials as components in building materials where the symmetry, optical and electrical properties of the molecule are important. Aggregates or polymers of these molecules have been known for some time to possess interesting electrical conductivities, and more recently interesting optical properties. Their optical properties as isolated species in condensed phases have also recently become interesting, and their ability to form new hybrid materials, by mixing or by thin film deposition, with other molecules with different electron affinities and ionization potentials, now appears to be extremely attractive. Device technologies in which we can anticipate these molecules appearing in the near future include organic light-emitting diodes, organic field effect transisitors, organic photovoltaics, optical limiters and optically based chemical sensors.

Physicochemical insights in supramolecular interaction of fullerenes C60 and C70 with a monoporphyrin in presence of silver nanoparticles

The present article reports for the first time on supramolecular interaction between fullerenes (C60 and C70) and a designed monoporphyrin in solution, e.g., 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (1), in absence and presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNp) having varying diameter of range between 3 and 7 nm. Ground state electronic interaction between fullerenes and 1 has been evidenced from the observation of decrease in the intensity of the Soret absorption band of 1 after complexation with C60 and C70 in toluene. However, in presence of AgNp, extent of decrease in the intensity of Soret absorption band of 1 has been reduced following its complexation with fullerenes. Steady state fluorescence measurements establish quenching of fluorescence of 1 by fullerenes and the most interesting aspect of the present work is that quenching efficiencies of C60 and C70 are found to be less in presence of AgNp. Steady state fluorescence measurement reveals reduction in the binding constant (K) value for both C60-1 (KC60-1=2355 dm3 mol(-1) and C70-1 complex (KC70-1=11,980 dm3 mol(-1)) in presence of AgNp (KC60-1=340 and KC70-1=7380 dm3 mol(-1)). The new physical insight of the present studies is that 1 acts as excellent discriminator molecule for C70 in presence of AgNp as selectivity in binding is estimated to be ∼21.7 in presence of AgNp compared to the situation when fullerene-1 mixture does not contain any AgNp (i.e., selectivity in binding=∼5.0) in solution. Time-resolved fluorescence studies establish the role of static quenching mechanism behind fluorescence decay of 1 by fullerenes in absence and presence of AgNp. Magnitude of rate constant for charge separation and quantum yield of charge separation indicates that C70-1 complex exhibits highest value of such parameters in absence of AgNp compared to the situation when AgNp particles are present in the composite mixture of C70 and 1. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement reveals while particle size of AgNp is estimated to be ∼4.8-5.0 nm in presence of 1, the size of the AgNp particles in 1 become larger in presence of C60 (∼13.0 nm) and C70 (∼37.0 nm) solution in toluene. Conductance measurement establishes that AgNp particles reduce the generation of electrical conductivity value for both C60-1 and C70-1 systems in toluene with respect to time; the rate of decrease of electrical conductivity become much slower in presence of C70-1 complex. Scanning electron microscopic experiment provides excellent support for DLS measurements regarding increase in the size of the nanoparticles in presence of C60 and C70. Transmission electron microscope clearly demonstrates that the electrostatic attraction between porphyrin-based supramolecules and silver nanoparticles is very much responsible behind the formation of larger aggregates. Semiempirical PM3 calculations in vacuo establish the single projection structures for the fullerene-1 complexes and well interpret the stability difference between C60- and C70-complexes of 1 in terms of heat of formation values of the respective complexes.

Transition from free rotation of C70 molecules to static disorder in the molecular C70 complex with covalently linked porphyrin dimers: {(FeIIITPP)2O}·C70

Fullerene C 70 and covalently linked porphyrin ( Fe III TPP )2 O dimers (TPP: tetraphenylporphyrin) form molecular complex {( Fe III TPP )2 O }· C 70 (1). Each C 70 molecule is sandwiched between two ( Fe III TPP )2 O dimers and is surrounded by phenyl groups of four other porphyrin dimers. At 295 K, C 70 molecules freely rotate about the short axis of the molecule in the ab plane. As a result, the disordered C 70 molecules form spheroids flattened at the poles. The rotation of C 70 stops near 100 K, resulting in the transition from a tetragonal to a monoclinic unit cell with a four-fold increase in the unit cell volume. In monoclinic phase the C 70 molecules are located on the axis which coincides with the short axis of the molecule and passes through the midpoints of two oppositely located 6-6 bonds. Since this position has higher symmetry than the own symmetry of C 70, it results in statistic disorder of the C 70 molecules between two orientations. It was shown that multiple Van der Waals contacts with a concave Fe III TPP macrocycle which appear below 100 K, play an important role in the ordering of C 70.

STRUCTURES AND ENERGETICS OF PORPHYRIN-FULLERENE SUPRAMOLECULAR COMPLEXES

In this paper, the structures and energetics of porphyrin-fullerene supramolecular complexes have been investigated theoretically via molecular mechanics calculations on complexes having different porphyrins. The results of the calculations allow us to delineate the effect of the substituents on the porphyrin ring on the porphyrin-fullerene interaction energies. The calculations also allow us to understand how the van der Waals force affects the structures of the 2:1, 2:2, and 3:1 supramolecular complexes.

AB INITIO AND DFT THEORETICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON NOVEL PORPHYRIN–FULLERENE SUPRAMOLECULAR DYADS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES

The conformational stability and electronic structures of novel H 2-(1) and Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin–[60]fullerene (2) dyads, in which the [60]fullerene is directly linked to the tetrapyrrolic rings by ethynylenephenylene subunits, have been studied by ab initio and density functional theory calculations. From the investigation on frontier molecular orbitals, it was found that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital state of these supramolecules is localized on the fullerene and that the highest occupied molecular orbital state is localized on the porphyrin moiety. Molecular electrostatic potential maps clearly demonstrate the electron transfer phenomena from the porphyrin moiety to the fullerene in dyads 1 and 2.

Enhancement of light-energy conversion efficiency by multi-porphyrin arrays of porphyrin-peptide oligomers with fullerene clusters

Organic photovoltaic cells using supramolecular complexes of porphyrin-peptide oligomers (porphyrin-functionalized alpha-polypeptides) with fullerene demonstrate remarkable enhancement in the photoelectrochemical performance as well as broader photoresponse in the visible and near-infrared regions by increasing the number of porphyrin units in alpha-polypeptide structures. A high power conversion efficiency (eta) of 1.3% and a maximum incident photon-to-photocurrent efficiency (IPCE) of 42% were attained using composite clusters of porphyrin-peptide octamer and fullerene. These results clearly show that the formation of a molecular assembly between fullerene and multi-porphyrin arrays with a polypeptide backbone controls the electron transfer efficiency in the supramolecular complex, which is essential for the light-energy conversion.

Interaction of Metal Porphyrins with Fullerene C60: A New Insight

The electronic structure and bonding in the noncovalent, supramolecular complexes of fullerene C60 with a series of first-row transition metal porphines MP (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) have been re-examined with DFT methods. A dispersion correction was made for the C60-MP binding energy through an empirical method (J. Comput. Chem. 2004, 25, 1463). Several density functionals and two types of basis sets were employed in the calculations. Our calculated results are rather different from those obtained in a recent paper (J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 3704). The ground state of C60.FeP is predicted to be high spin (S=2); the low-spin (S=0), closed-shell state is even higher in energy than the intermediate-spin (S=1) state. With only one electron in the Co-dz2 orbital, the calculated Co-C60 distance is in fact rather short, about 0.1 A longer than the Fe-C60 distance in high-spin C60.FeP. Double occupation of an M-dz2 orbital in MP prevents close association of any axial ligand, and so the Ni-C60, Cu-C60, and Zn-C60 distances are much longer than the Co-C60 one. The evaluated MP-C60 binding energies (Ebind) are 0.8 eV (18.5 kcal/mol) for M=Fe/Co and 0.5 eV (11.5 kcal/mol) for M=Ni/Cu/Zn (Ebind is about 0.2 eV larger in the case of C60-MTPP). They are believed to be reliable and accurate based on our dispersion-corrected DFT calculations that included the counterpoise (CP) correction. The effects of the C60 contact on the redox properties of MP were also examined.

Solid State Structural Evidence of Chloroform−Benzene−Chloroform Adduct Trapped in Hexaanthryl Octaaminocryptand Channels

Structural aspects governing the formation and stabilization of adducts in the organic channels were examined. An unprecedented structural evidence of an inverted sandwich-type benzene/chloroform (1:2) adduct was isolated within the channel formed by close packing of an aromatic substituted aminocryptand 1 host. Interestingly, this adduct was stabilized through several short contacts with the channel wall. Crystallographic study further showed that a channel formed by self-assembly of 1 can also encapsulate chloroform as a guest. Thermal analysis confirms that the chloroform-benzene-chloroform adduct as a guest has better thermal stability than that of the chloroform guest within the channel.

Peculiarities of C60.− Coordination to Cobalt(II) Octaethylporphyrin in Ionic Multicomponent Complexes: Observation of the Reversible Formation of CoC(C60−) Coordination Bonds

Ionic multicomponent complexes containing the C60- anion, cobalt(II) octaethylporphyrin (OEP), and the noncoordinating tetramethylphosphonium cation (TMP+), [(TMP+){Co(II)OEP(C60-)}(C6H5CN)x(C6H4Cl2)(1-x)] (x congruent with 0.75) (1), or the coordinating cation of N-methyldiazabicyclooctane (MDABCO+), [{(MDABCO+)Co(II)OEP(C60-)}(C6H5CN)x(C6H4Cl2)(1-x)] (x congruent with 0.67) (2), were obtained. Diamagnetic sigma-bonded {Co(II)OEP(C60-)} units in 1 have the Co...C(C60-) distance of 2.268(1) A at 100 K and are stable up to 290 K. Both MDABCO+ and C60- coordinate to Co(II)OEP in 2. In this case, a noticeably longer Co...CC60-) distance of 2.508(4) A was observed at 100 K. As a result, the unprecedented reversible formation of the Co-C(C60-) coordination sigma bond is realized in 2 and is accompanied by a transition from a paramagnetic to a diamagnetic state in the 50-250 K range. It was shown, for the first time, that the Co...C distance of about 2.51 A is a boundary distance below which the Co-C(C60-) coordination bond is formed.

A Photoelectrochemical Device with a Nanostructured SnO2Electrode Modified with Composite Clusters of Porphyrin-Modified Silica Nanoparticle and Fullerene

A silica nanoparticle has been successfully employed as a nanoscaffold to self-organize porphyrin and C60 molecules on a nanostructured SnO2 electrode. The quenching of the porphyrin excited singlet state on the silica nanoparticle is suppressed significantly, showing that silica nanoparticles are promising scaffolds for organizing photoactive molecules three-dimensionally in nanometer scale. Marked enhancement of the photocurrent generation was achieved in the present system compared with the reference system, where a gold core was employed as a scaffold of porphyrins instead of a silica nanoparticle. The rather small incident photon-to-current efficiency relative to a similar photoelectrochemical device using a silica microparticle may result from poor electron and hole mobility in the composite film due to poor connection between the composite clusters of a porphyrin-modified silica nanoparticle and C60 in micrometer scale.

Potassium Ion Controlled Switching of Intra- to Intermolecular Electron Transfer in Crown Ether Appended Free-Base Porphyrin−Fullerene Donor−Acceptor Systems

Photoinduced electron transfer in intramolecularly interacting free-base porphyrin bearing one or four 18-crown-6 ether units at different positions of the porphyrin macrocycle periphery and pristine fullerene was investigated in polar benzonitrile and nonpolar o-dichlorobenzene and toluene solvents. Owing to the presence of two modes of binding, stable dyads were obtained in which the binding constants, K, were found to range between 4.2 x 10(3) and 10.4 x 10(3) M(-1) from fluorescence quenching data depending upon the location and number of crown ether entities on the porphyrin macrocycle and the solvent. Computational studies using the B3LYP/3-21G() method were employed to arrive at the geometry and electronic structure of the intramolecular dyads. The energetics of the redox states of the dyads were established from cyclic voltammetric studies. Under the intramolecular conditions, both the steady-state and time-resolved emission studies revealed efficient quenching of the singlet excited free-base porphyrin in these dyads, and the measured rates of charge separation, k(CS), were found to be in the 10(8)-10(9) s(-1) range. Nanosecond transient absorption studies were performed to characterize the electron-transfer products and to evaluate the charge-recombination rates. Shifting of the electron-transfer pathway from the intra- to intermolecular route was achieved by complexing potassium ions to the crown ether cavity(ies) in benzonitrile. This cation complexation weakened the intramolecular interactions between fullerene and the crown ether appended free-base porphyrin supramolecules, and under these conditions, intermolecular type interactions were mainly observed. Reversible inter- to intramolecular electron transfer was also accomplished by extracting the potassium ions of the complex with the addition of 18-crown-6. The present study nicely demonstrates the application of supramolecular methodology to control the excited-state electron-transfer path in donor-acceptor dyads.

Host–Guest Interactions in the Supramolecular Incorporation of Fullerenes into Tailored Holes on Porphyrin-Modified Gold Nanoparticles in Molecular Photovoltaics

Novel gold nanoparticles modified with a mixed self-assembled monolayer of porphyrin alkanethiol and short-chain alkanethiol were prepared (first step) to examine the size and shape effects of surface holes (host) on porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles. The porphyrin-modified gold nanoparticles with a size of about 10 nm incorporated C60 molecules (guest) into the large, bucket-shaped holes, leading to the formation of a supramolecular complex of porphyrin-C60 composites (second step). Large composite clusters with a size of 200-400 nm were grown from the supramolecular complex of porphyrin-C60 composites in mixed solvents (third step) and deposited electrophoretically onto nanostructured SnO2 electrodes (fourth step). Differences in the porphyrin:C60 ratio were found to affect the structures and photoelectrochemical properties of the composite clusters in mixed solvents as well as on the SnO2 electrodes. The photoelectrochemical performance of a photoelectrochemical device consisting of SnO2 electrodes modified with the porphyrin-C60 composites was enhanced relative to a reference system with small, wedged-shaped surface holes on the gold nanoparticle. Time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy with fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest the occurrence of ultrafast electron transfer from the porphyrin excited singlet states to C60 or the formation of a partial charge-transfer state in the composite clusters of supramolecular complexes formed between porphyrin and C60 leading to efficient photocurrent generation in the system. Elucidation of the relationship between host-guest interactions and photoelectrochemical function in the present system will provide valuable information on the design of molecular devices and machines including molecular photovoltaics.

Hydrogen Bonding Effects on the Surface Structure and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Nanostructured SnO2 Electrodes Modified with Porphyrin and Fullerene Composites

Hydrogen bonding effects on surface structure, photophysical properties, and photoelectrochemistry have been examined in a mixed film of porphyrin and fullerene composites with and without hydrogen bonding on indium tin oxide and nanostructured SnO2 electrodes. The nanostructured SnO2 electrodes modified with the mixed films of porphyrin and fullerene composites with hydrogen bonding exhibited efficient photocurrent generation compared to the reference systems without hydrogen bonding. Atomic force microscopy, infrared reflection absorption, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopies and time-resolved fluorescence lifetime and transient absorption spectroscopic measurements disclosed the relationship between the surface structure and photophysical and photoelectrochemical properties relating to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the porphyrins and/or the C60 moieties in the films on the electrode surface. These results show that hydrogen bonding is a highly promising methodology for the fabrication of donor and acceptor composites on nanostructured semiconducting electrodes, which exhibit high photoelectrochemical properties.

Effect of Axial Ligation or π-π-Type Interactions on Photochemical Charge Stabilization in “Two-Point” Bound Supramolecular Porphyrin-Fullerene Conjugates

Two types of structurally well-defined, self-assembled zinc porphyrin-fullerene conjugates were formed by "two-point" binding strategies to probe the effect of axial ligation or pi-pi-type interactions on the photochemical charge stabilization in the supramolecular dyads. To achieve this, meso-tetraphenylporphyrin was functionalized to possess one or four [18]crown-6 moieties at different locations on the porphyrin macrocycle while fullerene was functionalized to possess an alkyl ammonium cation, and a pyridine or phenyl entities. As a result of the crown ether-ammonium cation complexation, and zinc-pyridine coordination or pi-pi-type interactions, stable zinc porphyrin-fullerene conjugates with defined distance and orientation were formed. Evidence for the zinc-pyridine complexation or pi-pi-type interactions was obtained from the spectral and computational studies. Steady-state and time-resolved emission studies revealed efficient quenching of the zinc-porphyrin singlet excited state in these dyads, and the measured rates of charge separation, k(CS) were found to be slightly better in the case of the dyads held by axial coordination and crown ether-cation complexation. Nanosecond transient absorption studies provided evidence for the electron transfer reactions, and these studies also revealed charge stabilization in these dyads. The lifetimes of the radical ion pairs were found to depend upon the type of porphyrins utilized to form the dyads, that is, porphyrin possessing the crown ether moiety at the ortho position of one of the phenyl rings yielded prolonged charge stabilized states. Addition of pyridine to the supramolecular dyads eliminated the zinc-pyridine coordination or pi-pi-type interactions of the "two-point" bound systems due to the formation of a new zinc-pyridine axial bond thus giving a unique opportunity to probe the effect of axial coordination or pi-pi interactions on k(CS) and k(CR). Under these conditions, the measured electron transfer rates revealed faster k(CS) and slower k(CR) as compared to those obtained in the absence of added pyridine. The evaluated lifetimes of the radical ion-pairs were found to be hundreds of nanoseconds and were longer in the presence of pyridine.

Cadmium(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes of Benziporphyrins. A Study of Weak Intramolecular Metal−Arene Interactions

Weak metal-arene interactions have been investigated in Zn, Cd, Hg, and Ni complexes of meso-tetraaryl m- and p-benziporphyrin (1 and 2) and of the new compound, m-benziporphodimethene (3). Compounds 1-3 incorporate the phenylene moiety into a macrocyclic structure so as to facilitate the interaction between the arene and coordinated metal ion. X-ray studies performed on Cd(II) and Ni(II) complexes show that the arene fragment approaches the ion at a distance much shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii. In chloronickel(II) m-benziporphyrin, a weak agostic bond is actually formed. In the NMR spectra of the Cd(II) and Hg(II) species, unusual (1)H-M and (13)C-M scalar couplings have been observed that are transmitted directly between the metal and the arene. DFT calculations performed for two Cd(II) species and subsequent AIM analysis show that the accumulation of electron density between the metal and arene necessary to induce these couplings is fairly small and the interaction is steric in nature. In the paramagnetic Ni(II) complexes of 1 and 3, the agostic proton of the m-phenylene exhibits large downfield (1)H NMR shifts (386 and 208 ppm at 298 K, respectively). An agostic mechanism of spin density transfer is proposed to explain these shifts as resulting from electron donation from the CH bond to the metal. In chloronickel(II) p-benziporphyrin, the inner protons of the p-phenylene have a contrastingly small shift (0.0 ppm at 298 K), indicating that in this case the agostic interaction is inefficient, in agreement with the X-ray data.

Crystal environments probed by EPR spectroscopy. Variations in the EPR spectra of Co(II)(octaethylporphyrin) doped in crystalline diamagnetic hosts and a reassessment of the electronic structure of four-coordinate cobalt(II)

The powder and single-crystal EPR spectra of Co(II)(OEP) (OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin) doped into a range of diamagnetic crystals including simple four-coordinate hosts, H(2)(OEP), the triclinic B form of Ni(II)(OEP), the tetragonal form of Ni(II)(OEP) and Zn(II)(OEP); five-coordinate hosts, micro-dioxane)[Zn(II)(OEP)](2) and (py)Zn(II)(OEP); six-coordinate hosts, (py)(2)Zn(II)(OEP) and (py)(2)Mg(II)(OEP); and hosts containing fullerenes, C(60).2Zn(II)(OEP).CHCl(3), C(70).Ni(II)(OEP).C(6)H(6).CHCl(3), and C(60).Ni(II)(OEP).2C(6)H(6) have been obtained and analyzed. Spectra were simulated using a program that employed the exact diagonalization of the 16 x 16 complex spin Hamiltonian matrix. The EPR spectra of these doped samples are very sensitive to the environment within each crystal with the crystallographic site symmetry determining whether axial or rhombic resonance patterns are observed. For Co(II)(OEP) doped into tetragonal Ni(II)(OEP) (which displays a very large g( perpendicular ) of 3.405 and a very small g( parallel ) of 1.544) and several other crystals containing four-coordinate metal sites, the g components could not be fit using existing theory with the assumption of the usual z(2) ground state. However, reasonable agreement of the observed EPR parameters could be obtained by assuming that the unpaired electron resides in an xy orbital in the four-coordinate complexes.

Quaternary Self-Organization of Porphyrin and Fullerene Units by Clusterization with Gold Nanoparticles on SnO2 Electrodes for Organic Solar Cells

Novel organic solar cells prepared using quaternary self-organization of porphyrin (donor) and fullerene (acceptor) dye units by clusterization with gold nanoparticles on SnO2 electrodes exhibit the remarkable enhancement of the photoelectrochemical properties relative to the reference systems.

Synthesis and structure of multicomponent crystals of fullerenes and metal tetraarylporphyrins

The preparation of fullerene complexes with metal tetraarylporphyrins in the presence of excess ferrocene (Cp(2)Fe) results in the formation of new solvent-free and multicomponent molecular crystals. New isomorphous complexes of C(60) with PyZnTPP (ZnTPP identical with zinc 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrinate) and PyCoTPP (CoTPP identical with cobalt(II) 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrinate) containing Cp(2)Fe and the isostructural C(70) complex with PyZnTPP have been prepared. The crystal structures of the new layered C(60) complexes CoTMPP x C(60) (obtained in the presence of Cp(2)Fe) and CoTMPP x 2C(60) x 3C(7)H(8) (obtained in the absence of Cp(2)Fe) have been described (CoTMPP identical with cobalt(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-methoxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrinate). Cobalt atoms of the PyCoTPP and CoTMPP molecules are weakly coordinated to C(60) with Co...C(C(60)) distances in the 2.64-2.82 A range, whereas zinc atoms of PyZnTPP, as well as cobalt atoms of the CoTMPP molecules in the solvent-free phase, form only van der Waals contacts with fullerenes. Different packing arrangements in the crystals of fullerene-porphyrin complexes have been discussed.

Tetraphenyl-p-benziporphyrin: a carbaporphyrinoid with two linked carbon atoms in the coordination core

Replacement of one of the pyrrole rings with a p-phenylene unit transforms porphyrin into p-benziporphyrin (1), an aromatic carbaporphyrinoid that locates two connected carbon atoms in the coordination core. p-Benziporphyrin forms a complex with cadmium(II) (2) with an unprecedented eta(2) Cd(II)-arene interaction.

Extending supramolecular fullerene-porphyrin chemistry to pillared metal-organic frameworks

Porphyrins and fullerenes are spontaneously attracted to each other. This supramolecular recognition element can be exploited to produce ordered arrays of interleaved porphyrins and fullerenes. C(60) x H(2)TpyP x Pb(NO(3))(2) x 1.5TCE (H(2)TpyP = tetra-4-pyridylporphyrin; TCE = 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane) crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/n space group and the structure has been solved to high resolution. The Pb(2+) ions connect the pyridylporphyrins in infinite sheets with an interlayer spacing of 12.1 A. The fullerenes are intercalated between these layers, acting as pillars. The 6:6 ring juncture bonds of C(60) are centered over the porphyrins, bringing the layers into strict tetragonal register. This arrangement identifies the fullerene-porphyrin interaction as a structure-defining element. The same motif is seen in a related ribbon structure having C(70) intercalated into HgI(2)-linked H(2)TpyTP. The supramolecular design principles involved in assembling these chromophores may have applications in materials science.