Synthesis of three asymmetric N-confused tetraarylporphyrins

Two monosubstituted and one tetrasubstituted N-confused porphyrins (1-3) were prepared in ca. 3-5% yields using a [2 + 2] synthesis. The monosubstituted porphyrins have carbomethoxy (1) or nitro (2) substituents on one of the meso-phenyl groups, while the meso-phenyl groups of the third NCP (3) are substituted with nitro, bromo, and methyl groups in an AB(2)C pattern. The specific regiochemistry of the aryl rings around the macrocycle in each porphyrin was definitively determined using a combination of 1D ((1)H and (13)C) and 2D (gHMBC, gHSQC and ROESY) NMR spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of 1-3 in CH(2)Cl(2) are similar to those of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin (NCTPP) but have Soret and Q bands that are shifted to lower energies with smaller extinction coefficients in comparison to those for NCTPP.     

Swallowtail porphyrins: synthesis, characterization and incorporation into porphyrin dyads

The incorporation of symmetrically branched tridecyl ("swallowtail") substituents at the meso positions of porphyrins results in highly soluble building blocks. Synthetic routes have been investigated to obtain porphyrin building blocks bearing 1-4 swallowtail groups. Porphyrin dyads have been synthesized in which the zinc or free base (Fb) porphyrins are joined by a 4,4'-diphenylethyne linker and bear swallowtail (or n-pentyl) groups at the nonlinking meso positions. The swallowtail-substituted Zn(2)- and ZnFb-dyads are readily soluble in common organic solvents. Static absorption and fluorescence spectra and electrochemical data show that the presence of the swallowtail groups slightly raises the energy level of the filled a(2u)(pi) HOMO. EPR studies of the pi-cation radicals of the swallowtail porphyrins indicate that the torsional angle between the proton on the alkyl carbon and p-orbital on the meso carbon of the porphyrin is different from that of a porphyrin bearing linear pentyl groups. Regardless, the swallowtail substituents do not significantly affect the photophysical properties of the porphyrins or the electronic interactions between the porphyrins in the dyads. In particular, time-resolved spectroscopic studies indicate that facile excited-state energy transfer occurs in the ZnFb dyad, and EPR studies of the monocation radical of the Zn(2)-dyad show that interporphyrin ground-state hole transfer is rapid.     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of a series of substituted N-confused tetraphenylporphyrins

A series of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrins (H(2)NCTPPs) with substituents on either the para- or the 3,5-positions of the meso phenyl rings were prepared using Lindsey conditions. Both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups were chosen in order to probe the effects of peripheral substitution on the properties of the macrocycles. The series includes 5,10,15,20-tetra-(4-R-phenyl) N-confused porphyrins (where R = bromo (1), iodo (2), cyano (3), methoxy (4), 2',5'-dimethoxyphenyl (5), or ethynyl (6)) and 5,10,15,20-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl) N-confused porphyrin (7). Absorption and steady-state fluorescence measurements were carried out, and quantum yields were measured for all compounds in both dichloromethane (CH(2)Cl(2)) and dimethylacetamide (DMAc).     

Ultrafast spectroscopy of free-base N-confused tetraphenylporphyrins

The photophysical characterization of the two tautomers (1e and 1i) of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl N-confused free-base porphyrin, as well as the tautomer-locked 2-methyl 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl N-confused free-base porphyrin, was carried out using a combination of steady state and time-resolved optical techniques. N-Confused porphyrins, alternatively called 2-aza-21-carba-porphyrins or inverted porphyrins, are of great interest for their potential as building blocks in assemblies designed for artificial photosynthesis, and understanding their excited-state properties is paramount to future studies in multicomponent arrays. Femtosecond resolved transient absorption experiments reveal spectra that are similar to those of tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) with either Soret or Q-band excitation, with an extinction coefficient for the major absorbing band of 1e that was about a factor of 5 larger than that of H2TPP. The lifetime of the S1 state was determined at a variety of absorption wavelengths for each compound and was found to be consistent with time-resolved fluorescence experiments. These experiments reveal that the externally protonated tautomer (1e) is longer lived (tau = 1.84 ns) than the internally protonated form (1i, tau = 1.47 ns) by approximately 369 ps and that the N-methyl N-confused porphyrin was shorter lived than the tautomeric forms by approximately 317 ps (DMAc) and approximately 396 ps (benzene). Steady-state fluorescence experiments on tautomers 1e and 1i and the N-methyl analogues corroborate these results, with fluorescence quantum yields (Phi(Fl)) of 0.046 (1e, DMAc) and 0.023 (1i, benzene), and 0.025 (DMAc) and 0.018 (benzene) for the N-methyl N-confused porphyrin. The lifetime and quantum yield data was interpreted in terms of structural changes that influence the rate of internal conversion. The absorption and transient absorption spectra of these porphyrins were also examined in the context of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/3-21G(d) level of theory and compared to the spectra/electronic structure of H2TPP and tetraphenyl chlorin.     

A compact water-soluble porphyrin bearing an iodoacetamido bioconjugatable site

A broad range of applications requires access to porphyrins that are compact, water-soluble, and bioconjugatable. A symmetrically branched hydrocarbon chain ('swallowtail') bearing polar end groups imparts high (>10 mM) aqueous solubility upon incorporation at one of the meso positions of a trans-AB-porphyrin. Two such swallowtail-porphyrins (1a, 1b) equipped with a conjugatable group (carboxylic acid, bromophenyl) have been prepared previously. The synthesis of three new water-soluble trans-AB-porphyrins is reported, where each porphyrin bears a diphosphonate-terminated swallowtail group and an amino (2a), acetamido (2b), or iodoacetamido (2c) group. The amine affords considerable versatility for functionalization. The iodoacetamide provides a sulfhydryl-reactive site for bioconjugation. Porphyrins were fully characterized in aqueous solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy (in D2O), ESI-MS, static absorption spectroscopy, and static and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Porphyrins 2a-2c exhibit characteristic porphyrin absorption and emission bands in aqueous solution, with a strong, sharp absorption band in the blue region (approximately 401 nm) and emission in the red region (approximately 624, 686 nm). Porphyrin 2b in aqueous phosphate buffer or phosphate-buffered saline solution exhibits a fluorescence quantum yield of approximately 0.04 and an excited singlet-state lifetime of approximately 11 ns. Collectively, the facile synthesis, amenability to bioconjugation, large spacing between the main absorption and fluorescence features, and long singlet excited-state lifetime make this molecular design quite attractive for a range of biomedical applications.     

A comparative mechanistic study of the reversible binding of NO to a water-soluble octa-cationic Fe(III) porphyrin complex

The water-soluble, non-mu-oxo dimer-forming porphyrin, [5,10,15,20-tetrakis-4'-t-butylphenyl-2',6'-bis-(N-methylene-(4'-t-butylpyridinium))porphyrinato]iron(III) octabromide, (P(8+))Fe(III), with eight positively charged substituents in the ortho positions of the phenyl rings, was characterized by UV-vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy and 17O NMR water-exchange studies in aqueous solution. Spectrophotometric titrations of (P(8+))Fe(III) indicated a pKa1 value of 5.0 for coordinated water in (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2. The monohydroxo-ligated (P(8+))Fe(III)(OH)(H2O) formed at 5 < pH < 12 has a weakly bound water molecule that undergoes an exchange reaction, k(ex) = 2.4 x 10(6) s(-1), significantly faster than water exchange on (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2, viz. k(ex) = 5.5 x 10(4) s(-1) at 25 degrees C. The porphyrin complex reacts with nitric oxide to yield the nitrosyl adduct, (P(8+))Fe(II)(NO+)(L) (L = H2O or OH-). The diaqua-ligated (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2 binds and releases NO according to a dissociatively activated mechanism, analogous to that reported earlier for other (P)Fe(III)(H2O)2 complexes. Coordination of NO to (P(8+))Fe(III)(OH)(H2O) at high pH follows an associative mode, as evidenced by negative deltaS(double dagger)(on) and deltaV(double dagger)(on) values measured for this reaction. The observed ca. 10-fold decrease in the NO binding rate on going from six-coordinate (P(8+))Fe(III)(H2O)2 (k(on) = 15.1 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)) to (P(8+))Fe(III)(OH)(H2O) (k(on) = 1.56 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1) at 25 degrees C) is ascribed to the different nature of the rate-limiting step for NO binding at low and high pH, respectively. The results are compared with data reported for other water-soluble iron(III) porphyrins with positively and negatively charged meso substituents. Influence of the porphyrin periphery on the dynamics of reversible NO binding to these (P)Fe(III) complexes as a function of pH is discussed on the basis of available experimental data.     

Demetalation of the regioselective oxygenation product of an N-confused porphyrin complex

[structure: see text] The demetalation of M(III)(HCTPPO)Br (M = Mn or Fe) afforded two hydroxylated N-confused porphyrinoids. CTPPOH retains the tautomer form of the N-confused porphyrin with a hydroxyl group substituted in the inner-core carbon. The further attack of OH(-) to the meso carbon afforded a dihydroxylated N-confused macrocycle, CTPP(OH)(2).     

Reactivity of mono-meso-substituted iron(II) octaethylporphyrin complexes with hydrogen peroxide in the absence of dioxygen. Evidence for nucleophilic attack on the heme.

Treatment of the mono-meso-substituted iron(II) octaethylporphyrin complexes, (py)2Fe(II)(meso-NO2-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-CN-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-HC(O)-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-Cl-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-OMe-OEP), (py)2Fe(II)(meso-Ph-OEP), and (py)2Fe(II)(meso-n-Bu-OEP), with hydrogen peroxide in pyridine-d5 at -30 degrees C in the strict absence of dioxygen has been monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The product oxophlorin complexes are stable as long as the samples are protected from exposure to dioxygen. Hydrogen peroxide reacts cleanly with mono-meso-substituted iron(II) porphyrins in pyridine solution under an inert atmosphere to form mixtures of three possible oxygenation products, (py)2Fe(cis-meso-R-OEPO), (py)2Fe(trans-meso-R-OEPO), and (py)2Fe(OEPO). The yields of (py)2Fe(OEPO), which results from replacement of the unique meso substituent, as a function of the identity of the meso substituent decrease in the order NO2 > HC(O) approximately equal to CN approximately equal to Cl > OMe > Ph, Bu, which suggests that the species responsible for attack on the porphyrin periphery is nucleophilic in nature. A mechanism involving isoporphyrin formation through attack of hydroxide ion on a cationic iron porphyrin with an oxidized porphyrin ring is suggested. The identity of the unique meso functionality also affects the regiospecificity of substitution when the unique meso group is retained. Although random attack at the two different meso sites is expected to yield a cis/trans product ratio of 2, the observed ratios vary in the following order: cyano, 5.0; n-butyl, 4.9; chloro, 3.2; formyl, 2.6; methoxy, 1.9; phenyl 1.4.     

单、 双及双混氮杂卟啉的结构和电子吸收光谱

利用密度泛函和含时密度泛函理论对卟啉(FBP)、 单氮杂卟啉(N/Neo-CPs)、 双氮杂卟啉(DNCPs)及双混氮杂卟啉(Neo-C-NCPs)的结构与电子吸收光谱进行了研究. 结果表明, 由于N/C位置改变, 分子对称性和轨道组成发生改变, 氮杂卟啉中2-NCP-2H, 2,18-DNCP-2H 和1,17-Neo-C-NCP的各前线和近前线轨道能级发生较大变化, 光谱峰红移较显著; 电子-空穴分布图表明3类氮杂卟啉电子跃迁途径更丰富. 进一步探讨了水、 氯仿和苯3种溶剂对4类卟啉分子的影响. 结果表明, 随着溶剂极性减小, FBP, N-/Neo-CPs, DNCPs和Neo-C-NCPs的Q带吸收峰红移越明显, 吸收略有增强.     

Disproportionation of Iron(III) Porphyrin pi-Cation Radicals in the Presence of Sterically Hindered Pyridines. Spectroscopic Detection of Asymmetric Highly Oxidized Intermediates

The reactivity of iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin pi-cation radical (TPP(*))Fe(III)(ClO(4))(2), (1-1) iron(III) tetra-p-tolylporphyrin pi-cation radical (TTP(*))Fe(III)(ClO(4))(2) (1-2) and iron(III) tetramesitylporphyrin pi-cation radical (TMP(*))Fe(III)(ClO(4))(2) (1-3) complexes with 2,4,6-collidine, 2,3,6-collidine, 2-picoline, 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine, and 2,6-dibromopyridine has been examined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy in dichloromethane-d(2) solution at low temperatures. These complexes undergo hydration processes which are essential in the generation of highly oxidized species via acid base/equilibria of coordinated water followed by disproportionation pathway, giving as sole stable products [(TPP(*))Fe(III)OFe(III)(TPP)](+) (4-1), [(TTP(*))Fe(III)OFe(III)(TTP)](+) (4-2), and (TMP)Fe(III)(OH) (6) respectively. The sterically hindered pyridines act as efficient proton scavengers. Two novel highly oxidized iron complexes have been detected by (1)H NMR spectroscopy after addition of 2,4,6-collidine to (TTP(*))Fe(III)(ClO(4))(2) or (TPP(*))Fe(III)(ClO(4))(2) in dichloromethane-d(2) solution at 202 K. New intermediates have been identified as iron porphyrin N-oxide complexes, i.e., iron(III) porphyrin N-oxide cation radical (2-n) and iron(IV) porphyrin N-oxide radical (3-n). The (1)H NMR results indicate that the D(4)(h)() symmetry of the parent iron(III) pi-cation radical is drastically reduced upon disproportionation in the presence of proton scavengers. Both species are very unstable and were observed from 176 to 232 K. The intermediate 2-2 has a (1)H NMR spectrum which demonstrates large hyperfine shifts (ppm) for the meso p-tolyl substituents (ortho 98.0, 94.8, 92.9, 91.7; meta -34.8, -38.7, -41.5, -42.3; p-CH(3) -86.3, -88.0) which are consistent with presence of an N-substituted iron porphyrin radical in the product mixture. The characteristic (1)H NMR spectrum of 2-2 includes six pyrrole resonances at 149.6, 118.2, 115.4, 88.3, 64.6, and 55.7 ppm at 202 K, i.e., in the positions corresponding to iron(III) high-spin porphyrins. On warming to 222 K, the pyrrole resonances broaden and then coalesce pairwaise. Such dynamic behavior is accounted for by a rearrangement mechanism which involves an inversion of the porphyrin puckering. The pattern of p-tolyl resonances revealed the cation radical electronic structure of 3-2. The p-tolyl resonances are divided in two distinct sets showing opposite direction of the isotropic shift for the same ring positions. The pyrrole resonances of 3-2 also demonstrated downfield and upfield shifts. A disproportionation mechanism of the hydrated iron porphyrin cation radicals to generate 2 and 3 has been proposed. Both intermediates react with triphenylphosphine to produce triphenylphosphine oxide and high-spin iron porphyrins. Addition of 2,4,6-collidine to (TMP(*))Fe(III)(ClO(4))(2) does not produce analogs of 2 and 3 found for sterically unprotected porphyrins. It results instead in the formation of a variety of X(TMP(*))Fe(IV)O (5) complexes also accounted for by the disproportionation process.     

Convenient scaffold for forming heteroporphyrin arrays in aqueous media

A new methodology for preparing heteroporphyrin arrays in aqueous solution has been presented. The present method is based on the extremely strong ability of heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (TMe-beta-CD) to include 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-substituted-phenyl)porphyrins (Por) affording trans-type 1:2 complexes of the porphyrins and TMe-beta-CD. Two different Por-per-O-methylated beta-CD (per-Me-beta-CD) conjugates were synthesized. Conjugate 2 was prepared by an S(N)2 reaction of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and per-O-methylated beta-cyclodextrin having one primary OTs group. Four per-Me-beta-CD moieties are attached to the meso positions of 2. Conjugate 3, synthesized from 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)porphyrin and monotosylated per-O-methylated beta-cyclodextrin, has one per-Me-beta-CD moiety at the periphery of the porphyrin. Conjugate 2 yields a stable 1:4 complex with the zinc complex of 5-phenyl-10,15,20-tris(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)porphyrin (8) in the dissociated form. In this system, the energy transfer from photoexcited Zn-8 to free base 2 occurs with 85% efficiency. Conjugate 3 forms a very stable 1:1 complex with Zn-8 (K = (7.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1)) with an energy transfer efficiency (93%) larger than that obtained in the case of 2. The structure of the 3-Zn-8 complex, which can account for the efficient energy transfer, was deduced from (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Intramolecular fluorescence quenching of 2 and 3 by Fe(III)-8 also occurred through an electron-transfer process as the main quenching mechanism. The present method is a very simple and convenient means to construct various heteroporphyrin arrays in aqueous solution.     

Modified windmill porphyrin arrays: coupled light-harvesting and charge separattion, conformational relaxation in the S1 state, and S2-S2 energy transfer

The architecture of windmill hexameric zinc(II) -porphyrin array 1 is attractive as a light-harvesting functional unit in view of its three-dimensionally extended geometry that is favorable for a large cross-section of incident light as well as for a suitable energy gradient from the peripheral porphyrins to the meso-meso-linked diporphyrin core. Three core-modified windmill porphyrin arrays 2-4 were prepared for the purpose of enhancing the intramolecular energy-transfer rate and coupling these arrays with a charge-separation functional unit. Bisphenylethynylation at the meso and meso' positions of the diporphyrin core indeed resulted in a remarkable enhancement in the intramolecular S1-S1 energy transfer in 2 with tau=2 approximately 3 ps, as revealed by femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The fluorescence lifetime of the S2 state of the peripheral porphyrin energy donor determined by the fluorescence up-conversion method was 68 fs, and thus considerably shorter than that of the reference monomer (150 fs), suggesting the presence of the intramolecular energy-transfer channel in the S2 state manifold. Such a rapid energy transfer can be understood in terms of large Coulombic interactions associated with the strong Soret transitions of the donor and acceptor. Picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectra and transient absorption spectra revealed conformational relaxation of the S1 state of the diporphyrin core with tau = 25 ps. Upon photoexcitation of models 3 and 4, which bear a naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide or a meso-nitrated free-base porphyrin attached to the modified diporphyrin core as an electron acceptor, a series of photochemical processes proceeded, such as the collection of the excitation energy at the diporphyrin core, the electron transfer from the S1 state of the diporphyrin to the electron acceptor, and the electron transfer from the peripheral porphyrins to the diporphyrin cation radical, which are coupled to provide a fully charge-separated state such as that in the natural photosynthetic reaction center. The overall quantum yield for the full charge separation is better in 4 than in 3 owing to the slower charge recombination associated with smaller reorganization energy of the porphyrin acceptor.     

Acid-base properties and DNA-binding of water soluble N-confused porphyrins with cationic side-arms

Water soluble N-confused porphyrins, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(alpha-pyridinio-p-tolyl)-2-aza-21-carbaporphyrin (pPyNCP) and its N-methyl derivative, 2-N-methyl-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(alpha-pyridinio-p-tolyl)-2-aza-21-carbaporphyrin (NMe-pPyNCP), have been synthesized by introducing cationic side-arms at the meso-positions of N-confused porphyrin. Their acid-base properties (pK(1-4)) and DNA-binding ability in aqueous solutions were elucidated in comparison with the corresponding porphyrin derivative. Photophysical behaviors of pPyNCP were largely influenced by buffer compositions and DNA structures, whereas NMe-pPyNCP is considerably robust against these factors. In addition, significant enhancement of the fluorescence was observed with NMe-pPyNCP by the addition of DNA. The unique properties of pPyNCP and NMe-pPyNCP stem from the confused pyrrole rings in the macrocycle.     

Efficient light-harvesting antenna with a multi-porphyrin cascade

A light-harvesting antenna 1 comprising three varieties of porphyrins, each having a different number of ethynyl groups at its meso positions, was designed and synthesized. Antenna 1 exhibits intense absorption throughout the visible region up to 700 nm. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies showed that singlet-excited-state energy transfer occurs from the peripheral porphyrins to the central porphyrin with >90% efficiency and rate constants on the order of 10(10) s(-1).     

Manganese N-confused porphyrin reactivity: CH bond activation and meso carbon reduction

Manganese N-confused porphyrins activate C-C and C-H bonds upon heating or air oxidation; the dimer complex [Mn(NCTPP)]2 is reduced at two meso positions, and the pyridine coordinated monomer breaks the internal C-H bond upon heating or exposure to oxygen.     

Metal-molecule interactions upon deposition of copper overlayers on reactively functionalized porphyrin monolayers on Si(100)

The interaction of evaporated Cu deposited on a series of porphyrins in monolayers covalently attached to Si(100) substrates was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and FTIR spectroscopy. Each porphyrin contains a triallyl tripod attached to the porphyrin via a p-phenylene unit. The tripod anchors the porphyrin to the Si(100) substrate via hydrosilylation of the allyl groups. Two of the porphyrins are Zn chelates that possess meso p-cyanophenyl substituentsone, ZnP-CND, contains a single group opposite (distal) to the tripodal surface anchor, whereas the other, ZnP-CNL, contains two groups orthogonal (lateral) to the surface anchor. A third Zn porphyrin, ZnP, containing nonreactive p-tolyl groups at all three nonanchoring meso positions, was examined for comparison. The fourth porphyrin, FbP-HD, is a metal-free species (free base) that contains nonreactive phenyl (distal) and p-tolyl groups (lateral) at the three nonanchoring meso positions. The fifth porphyrin, CuP-HD, is the Cu chelate of FbP-HD, and serves as a reference complex for evaluating the effects of Cu metal deposition onto FbP-HD. The studies indicate that all of the porphyrin monolayers are robust under the conditions of Cu deposition, experiencing no noticeable degradation. In addition, the Cu metal does not penetrate through the monolayer to form electrically conductive filaments. For the ZnP-CND monolayers, the deposited Cu quantitatively reacts/complexes with the distal cyano group. In contrast, for the ZnP-CNL monolayers no reaction/complexation of the lateral cyano groups is observed. For the FbP-HD monolayers, Cu deposition results in quantitative insertion of Cu into the free base porphyrin. Collectively, the studies demonstrate that porphyrin monolayers are amenable to direct deposition of Cu overlayers and that functionalization of the porphyrins can be used to mediate the attributes of the metal-molecule junction.     

Inverted meso-aryl porphyrins with heteroatoms; characterization of thia, selena, and oxa N-confused porphyrins.

Synthesis and characterization of inverted porphyrins containing S, Se, and O are reported. A simple 3 + 1 MacDonald-type condensation using modified tripyrrane containing the N-confused ring and diols afforded various N-confused porphyrins 6a-f in 19-30% yield. The single-crystal X-ray structure of 6b shows a ruffled conformation with tilt angles of 21.11 degrees and 31.23 degrees for the N-confused ring and the adjacent pyrrole ring III, respectively, revealing its severe nonplanarity. Significant changes in C alpha-C beta, C beta-C beta, and C alpha-X bond lengths are observed in 6b relative to free thiophene and pyrrole, suggesting the altered delocalization pathway in the modified N-confused porphyrins. The two molecules in the unit cell show a cyclophane-type noncovalent dimer with a face to face orientation of two N-confused pyrrole rings as a result of the presence of weak N-H...N and C-H...N intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving pyrrole-NH, the N atom of the N-confused ring, and the C atom of the pyrrole ring. A detailed 1H and 13C NMR study by 1D and 2D methods allowed assignments of all the peaks in the free base and protonated forms. NMR studies reveal the presence of three different tautomeric forms in solution for 6c in CDCl3 at low temperature. UV-visible studies reveal absorption band shifts upon heteroatom substitution, and the magnitudes of these shifts are dependent on the nature of the heteroatom. In all cases both monoprotonated and diprotonated species have been identified, and on addition of acid, the first proton goes to the outer N2 atom of the N-confused ring.     

Directly meso-meso linked porphyrin rings: synthesis, characterization, and efficient excitation energy hopping

Directly meso-meso linked porphyrin rings CZ4, CZ6, and CZ8 that respectively comprise four, six, and eight porphyrins have been synthesized in a stepwise manner from a 5,10-diaryl zinc(II) porphyrin building block. Symmetric cyclic structures have been indicated by their very simple (1)H NMR spectra that exhibit only a single set of porphyrin and their absorption spectra that display a characteristic broad nonsplit Soret band around 460 nm. Energy minimized structures calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G* level indicate that a dihedral angle between neighboring porphyrins decreases in order of CZ6 > CZ8 > CZ4, which is consistent with the (1)H NMR data. Photophysical properties of these molecules have been examined by the steady-state absorption, fluorescence, fluorescence lifetime, fluorescence anisotropy decay, and transient absorption measurements. Both the pump-power dependence on the femtosecond transient absorption and the transient absorption anisotropy decay profiles are directly related with the excitation energy migration processes within the porphyrin rings, where the exciton-exciton annihilation time and the polarization anisotropy rise time are well described in terms of the Forster-type incoherent energy hopping model. Consequently, the excitation energy hopping rates have been estimated for CZ4 (119 +/- 2 fs)(-)(1), CZ6 (342 +/- 59 fs)(-)(1), and CZ8 (236 +/- 31 fs)(-)(1), which reflect the magnitude of the electronic coupling between the neighboring porphyrins. Overall, these porphyrin rings serve as a well-defined wheel-shaped light harvesting antenna model in light of very efficient excitation energy hopping along the ring.     

Noncovalent binding between fullerenes and protonated porphyrins in the gas phase

Noncovalent interactions between protonated porphyrin and fullerenes (C?? and C??) were studied with five different meso-substituted porphyrins in the gas phase. The protonated porphyrin-fullerene complexes were generated by electrospray ionization of the porphyrin-fullerene mixture in 3:1 dichloromethane/methanol containing formic acid. All singly protonated porphyrins formed the 1:1 complexes, whereas porphyrins doubly protonated on the porphine center yielded no complexes. The complex ion was mass-selected and then characterized by collision-induced dissociation with Xe. Collisional activation exclusively led to a loss of neutral fullerene, indicating noncovalent binding of fullerene to protonated porphyrin. In addition, the dissociation yield was measured as a function of collision energy, and the energy inducing 50% dissociation was determined as a measure of binding energy. Experimental results show that C?? binds to the protonated porphyrins more strongly than C??, and electron-donating substituents at the meso positions increase the fullerene binding energy, whereas electron-withdrawing substituents decrease it. To gain insight into π-π interactions between protonated porphyrin and fullerene, we calculated the proton affinity and HOMO and LUMO energies of porphyrin using Hartree-Fock and configuration interaction singles theory and obtained the binding energy of the protonated porphyrin-fullerene complex using density functional theory. Theory suggests that the protonated porphyrin-fullerene complex is stabilized by π-π interactions where the protonated porphyrin accepts π-electrons from fullerene, and porphyrins carrying bulky substituents prefer the end-on binding of C?? due to the steric hindrance, whereas those carrying less-bulky substituents favor the side-on binding of C??.     

Structurally homologous beta- and meso-alkynyl amidinium porphyrins

Alkynylamidinium groups have been introduced at the beta and meso positions of a nickel(II) porphyrin (PNi(II)) framework. The modification permits the distance between the amidinium-amidine acid-base group and porphyrin to be increased while effectively maintaining pi conjugation between the porphyrin macrocycle and the acid-base functionality. Use of an ethynyl spacer as a linker (i) extends the amidinium functionality away from the sterically bulky mesityl groups of the porphyrin, allowing it to be nearly planar with respect to the porphyrin ring, and (ii) draws the pi-orbital character of the porphyrin out toward the amidinium functionality, thereby engendering sensitivity of the electronic properties of the porphyrin macrocycle to the protonation state of the amidinium. The barrier for rotation of the amidinium group, as calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), is approximately 8.5 kT (5 kcal/mol) for both porphyrins. Analysis of UV-visible absorption profiles for the beta- and meso-alkynylamidinium PNi(II) upon deprotonation enables accurate determination of the amidinium acidity constants for the ground state (pK(a)(beta) = 7.03 +/- 0.1, pK(a)(meso) = 7.74 +/- 0.1 in CH(3)CN) and excited state (pK(a)*(beta) = 6.89 +/- 0.1, pK(a)*(meso) = 8.37 +/- 0.1 in CH(3)CN) porphyrins. Whereas pK(a)* < pK(a) for the beta-alkynylamidinium porphyrin, pK(a)* > pK(a) for the meso-alkynylamidinium porphyrin, indicating that beta-alkynylamidinium PNi(II) is a photoacid and meso-alkynylamidinium PNi(II) is a photobase. These divergent behaviors are supported by analysis of the frontier molecular orbitals of the homologous pair with TDDFT.