Synthesis and spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of novel benzo- or 2,3-naphtho-fused tetraazachlorins, bacteriochlorins, and isobacteriochlorins

Benzene- or 2,3-naphthalene-ring-expanded tetraazachlorins (TACs), tetraazabacteriochlorins (TABCs), and tetraazaisobacteriochlorins (TAiBCs) have been synthesized by using tetramethylsuccinonitrile as a source of hydrogenated sites. The derived compounds were characterized by using NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, electronic and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, and electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. X-ray analysis revealed that the benzene-fused TAiBC deviates slightly from planarity at the hydrogenated sites as a result of the presence of sp(3) carbons, which prefer a nonplanar tetrahedral conformation. The spectral data were analyzed by using a band deconvolution technique. In the electronic absorption spectra of TAC and TABC species, the Q band splits into two intense components and smaller splittings were observed for the 2,3-naphthalene-fused derivatives relative to the benzo-fused species. In contrast, in the case of TAiBCs, the Q band splitting was apparently not observed in absorption spectra, as expected from the C(2v) molecular symmetry. However, MCD signals of the Q band in TAiBCs showed Faraday B terms, implying that the accidental degeneracy of the LUMO and LUMO+1 was broken even for adjacently ring-fused species. Relative molecular orbital energies were estimated by using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. The first reduction potentials were close for TACs and TABCs, although those of TAiBCs shifted to more negative potentials. In contrast, although TABCs and TAiBCs exhibited similar first oxidation potentials, those of TACs appeared at more positive potentials. These properties were reproduced and rationalized by molecular orbital and configuration interaction calculations within the framework of the ZINDO/S Hamiltonian. DFT-level frequency calculations have succeeded in reproducing the IR spectra for low-symmetry tetraazaporphyrin (TAP) derivatives for the first time. The relationship between structures and spectral features is discussed.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry of tetra-tert-butylated tetraazaporphyrins, phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines, and anthracocyanines, together with molecular orbital calculations

Tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs), phthalocyanines (Pcs), naphthalocyanines (Ncs), and anthracocyanines (Acs) with four tert-butyl groups attached at similar positions have been synthesized, and their electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), IR, and voltammetric properties were studied and interpreted with the help of quantum-mechanical calculations. Through the preparation of a series of compounds with the same number of the same substituent, the effects of the increase in the size of the ring system were clearly derived. The main results may be summarized as follows. 1) The Q band shifts to longer wavelength and its intensity increases, but with decreasing degree of change with increasing molecular size. If the size of the effect of benzene directly fused to the TAP skeleton is set at unity, the effects of the second and third benzene units are roughly 0.8 and 0.5, respectively. 2) The splitting of the Q bands in metal-free compounds decreases with increasing molecular size, so that the Q bands of H2Nc and H2Ac appear as single bands. 3) The magnitude of the orbital angular momentum of the excited state of the ligand decreases with increasing molecular size. 4) Interestingly, the ring current, as judged from the positions of pyrrole proton signals in the 1H NMR spectrum, appears to decrease with increasing molecular size. 5) The first reduction potential becomes less negative, but only slightly, whereas the first oxidation potential shows a marked shift to less positive values with increasing molecular size, indicating that the HOMO destabilizes significantly as the molecule becomes larger. 6) In 5), the extent of the HOMO destabilization with molecular size differs depending on the central metal, so metals producing smaller destabilization effects can allow larger macrocycles. Of the metals studied, the most effective is cobalt, and the practical size limit is represented by the Acs. 7) The IR spectra become simpler the larger the molecule, and the main bands were assigned by DFT calculations. 8) The trend in experimentally determined redox potentials and electronic absorption and MCD spectra were reasonably reproduced by MO calculations using the ZINDO/S Hamiltonian. 9) EPR data for several metallocomplexes are also reported.     

Tungsten(VI) Complex of N‐Fused Porphyrin Absorbing Near‐Infrared Light beyond 1000 nm

Incorporating tungsten into the N3 core of a N‐fused porphyrin (NFP; 1 ) affords high‐valent tungsten(VI)‐NFP complexes, WClO₂‐1 and 21‐chlorinated WClO₂‐3 . The X‐ray structure of WClO₂‐1 reveals a distorted octahedral geometry with sitting atop metal coordination. The absorption spectrum of WClO₂‐1 displays bathochromically shifted Q‐like bands beyond 1000 nm, indicating an inherently narrow HOMO‐LUMO energy gap. DFT calculations show that the degeneracy of the LUMO and LUMO+1 pair of 1 is significantly resolved by the tungsten(VI) coordination. Conclusively, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry provide a rationale for the narrow HOMO‐LUMO energy gap in the “16‐electron” d⁰ tungsten(VI)‐NFP complexes.     

Synthesis of Direct β‐to‐β Linked Porphyrin Arrays with Large Electronic Interactions: Branched and Cyclic Oligomers

Direct β‐to‐β linked branched and cyclic porphyrin trimers and pentamers have been synthesized by the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of β‐borylporphyrins and β‐bromoporphyrins. The cyclic porphyrin trimer, the smallest directly linked cyclic porphyrin wheel to date, and its twined pentamer, exhibit small electrochemical HOMO–LUMO gaps, broad nonsplit Soret bands, and red‐shifted Q‐bands, thus indicating large electronic interactions between the constituent porphyrin units.     

Applications of magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy to porphyrins and phthalocyanines

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy has widely been applied to porphyrins and phthalocyanines since around 1970, in order to elucidate their electronic structures. In this mini-review, some representative MCD results from the author's laboratory over the past 30 years are introduced, together with recent results from other laboratories. MCD studies on the following monomeric species are included: D(4h) type, adjacent vs. opposite type diaromatic ring-fused, non-planar, and reduced and oxidized species, as well as species showing temperature-dependent MCD signals. In addition, one example illustrates the use of MCD as a probe for the distal histidine residue in myoglobin. Recent results on dimers and oligomers are also reported. In particular, it is confirmed that the spectra of cofacial eclipsed dimers do not reflect the molecular symmetry of the constituent monomers. The spectra of rare-earth sandwich dimers and trimers are definitively assigned. Using spectra of planar oligomers of porphyrins, it is reiterated that it is often dangerous to assign the absorption bands of chromophores based only on the results of molecular orbital calculations. Some examples show that MCD can give information on the relative size of the DeltaHOMO (energy difference between the HOMO and HOMO-1) and DeltaLUMO (energy difference between the LUMO and LUMO+1); for example, if DeltaHOMO > DeltaLUMO, the MCD signal changes from minus to plus in ascending energy.     

Synthesis,Optical Properties,and Electronic Structures of Fully Core‐Modified Porphyrin Dications and Isophlorins

The synthesis, structures, optical properties, and electronic structures of the tetraphenyltetrathiaporphyrin dication (S₄TPP²⁺, 6 ) and tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)tetrathiaisophlorin (S₄F₂₀TPP, 7 ) are reported. S₄TPP²⁺ ( 6 ) and S₄F₂₀TPP ( 7 ) were synthesized by acid‐catalyzed condensation of the corresponding hydroxylmethylthiophene, followed by oxidation. The electronic structures of S₄TPP²⁺ ( 6 ) and S₄F₂₀TPP ( 7 ) were analyzed by using UV/Vis‐absorption spectroscopy and by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and the bands were assigned by using time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) and ZINDO/s calculations. A red‐shift of the Q bands of S₄TPP²⁺ ( 6 ) is observed relative to the spectra of tetraphenylporphyrins because a destabilization of the HOMO leads to a narrower HOMO–LUMO band‐gap. Michl′s perimeter model was used to assign the absorption bands and MCD spectra of S₄F₂₀TPP ( 7 ). Current‐density maps and nucleus‐independent chemical‐shift (NICS) calculations of S₄TPP²⁺ ( 6 ) and of a model compound predict marked modification to the diamagnetic ring current, whilst nonaromatic character is predicted for S₄F₂₀TPP ( 7 ).     

Detailed assignment of the magnetic circular dichroism and UV-vis spectra of five-coordinate high-spin ferric [Fe(TPP)(Cl)

High-spin (hs) ferric heme centers occur in the catalytic or redox cycles of many metalloproteins and exhibit very complicated magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and UV-vis absorption spectra. Therefore, detailed assignments of the MCD spectra of these species are missing. In this study, the electronic spectra (MCD and UV-vis) of the five-coordinate hs ferric model complex [Fe(TPP)(Cl)] are analyzed and assigned for the first time. A correlated fit of the absorption and low-temperature MCD spectra of [Fe(TPP)(Cl)] lead to the identification of at least 20 different electronic transitions. The assignments of these spectra are based on the following: (a) variable temperature and variable field saturation data, (b) time-dependent density functional theory calculations, (c) MCD pseudo A-terms, and (d) correlation to resonance Raman (rRaman) data to validate the assignments. From these results, a number of puzzling questions about the electronic spectra of [Fe(TPP)(Cl)] are answered. The Soret band in [Fe(TPP)(Cl)] is split into three components because one of its components is mixed with the porphyrin A2u72-->Eg82/83 (pi-->pi*) transition. The broad, intense absorption feature at higher energy from the Soret band is due to one of the Soret components and a mixed sigma and pi chloro to iron CT transition. The high-temperature MCD data allow for the identification of the Q v band at 20 202 cm(-1), which corresponds to the C-term feature at 20 150 cm(-1). Q is not observed but can be localized by correlation to rRaman data published before. Finally, the low energy absorption band around 650 nm is assigned to two P-->Fe charge transfer transitions, one being the long sought after A1u(HOMO)-->d pi transition.     

Controllable and reversible inversion of the electronic structure in nickel N-confused porphyrin: a case when MCD matters

Nickel N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin, 1, and nickel 2-N-methyl-N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin, 1-Me, exhibit unusual sign-reversed (positive-to-negative intensities in ascending energy) MCD spectra in the Q-type band region, suggesting a rare ΔHOMO < ΔLUMO relationship between π and π* MOs in the porphyrin core. Simple and reversible deprotonation of the external NH proton in 1 dramatically changes the electronic structure of the porphyrin core into the ΔHOMO > ΔLUMO combination characteristic for the meso-(tetraaryl)porphyrins. DFT, time-dependent DFT, and semiempirical ZINDO/S calculations on 1, 1-Me, and 1(-) confirm the experimental finding and successfully explain the MCD pattern in the target compounds.     

NH-tautomerism effects and isocyclic substitution in alkylporphyrins and their chemical dimers

A study has been made of the absorption spectra, circular dichroism in a magnetic field (MCD), and polarized fluorescence of individual NH-tautomers of free-base porphyrins with asymmetric substitution. The four-orbital model of Gouterman and the perimeter model of Michl have been used in demonstrating that, in spite of the basic differences in type of electronic spectra of the two NH-tautomers of each compound, their absorption spectra in the visible region are described by a system of two linear oscillators X and Y. The fluorescence polarization spectra of the tautomers in the region of band III are extremely sensitive to changes in the side substituents in the isocycle. From an analysis of the sign sequence of electronic bands in the MCD spectra, it has been established that these compounds may be classed as hard chromophores with identical type of orbital splitting for the HOMO (b₁ and b₂) and LUMO (c₂ and c₂) in the two tautomers of one and the same compound. A specific role has been found for the keto group in the isocycle, as manifested in inversion of the sign sequence of electronic bands in the MCD spectra of NH-tautomers with a cyclopentanone ring.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 295–305, May–June, 1989.     

Nature of the intense near-IR absorption and unusual broad UV-visible-NIR spectra of azulenocyanines: density functional theory studies

The nature of the broad and intense near-IR (NIR) absorptions of azulenocyanine (H(2)Azc) in the range of 720-1300 nm due to the π→π* transitions is clearly revealed on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations. The electron moving between peripheral conjugated systems and the eighteen electron-π-conjugated core due to different types of electron transitions has also been clarified. Because of the small gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of all four H(2)Azc isomers, their Q absorption bands in the region of 850-1300 nm are significantly red-shifted relative to its isoelectronic analogue naphthalocyanine H(2)Nc. Observation of the new absorption bands between Q and Soret bands from 720 to 1050 nm for H(2)Azc is considered to be the result of electron transitions from the fused azulene rings to the 18 electron-π-conjugated core. In addition, the introduction of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents onto the periphery of the azulenocyanine ring is revealed to further reduce the LUMO-HOMO gap, leading to a further red-shifted broad and intense NIR absorption band from 900 to 1700 nm for H(2)(F(8)Azc) and H(2)[(NH(2))(8)Azc].     

Magnetic circular dichroism of phthalocyanine (m=mg, zn) and tetraazaporphyrin (m=mg, zn, ni) metal complexes. A computational study based on time-dependent density functional theory

We present here simulated magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of MTAP (M=Mg, Ni, Zn) and MPc (M=Mg, Zn) where TAP=tetraazaporphyrin and Pc=phthalocyanine. The study is based on magnetically perturbed time-dependent density functional theory (MP-TDDFT) and a newly implemented method for the calculation of A and B terms from the theory of MCD. It follows from our investigation that the MCD spectrum for the MTAP and MPc systems in the Q-band region consists of a single positive A term augmented by a positive B term, in agreement with experiment where available. The Q band can be fully characterized in terms of the 2a1u-->2eg one-electron excitation. For the aza systems MgTAP and ZnTAP, the simulated MCD spectra in the Soret region are dominated by the two one-electron excitations 2a2u-->2eg and 1a2u-->2eg and has the appearance of a positive A term (with values between 1.33-1.55, depending on the MTAP system) made asymmetric by a negative B term, in good agreement with experiment. We find, in agreement with all available experimental findings on MPc (M=Mg, Zn) type systems, that the MCD spectra in the Soret region are dominated by two transitions with positive A/ D-term values and two negative B/ D-term values. The major contribution to the two transitions comes from the 2a2u-->2eg and 1a2u-->2eg one-electron excitations. It appears that the ratio of A/ B for the term parameters is underestimated by theory.     

Synthesis and characterization of meso-triarylsubporphyrins

The synthesis of several meso-triaryl-subporphyrins, based on utilizing tripyrrolylborane as a precursor in a reaction with arylaldehydes (where aryl = phenyl, 4- and 3-pyridyl, tolyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, and 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) under reflux in propionic acid, is reported. All of the compounds have been successfully characterized by 1H-, 13C-, and 13C-1H 2D NMR, electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), IR, and fluorescence spectroscopy, together with cyclic (CV) and differential pulse (DPV) voltammetry. The X-ray structure of tris{(trifluoromethyl)phenyl}subporphyrin was found to be slightly domed and similar to that of the recently reported hexaethylsubtriazaporphyrin (Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 6148). The electronic absorption spectra of all of the subporphyrins contain intense Soret bands in the 370-380 nm region and weaker Q bands in the 420-550 nm region, which are at shorter wavelengths than those observed (at ca. 400-420 nm and ca. 450-650 nm, respectively) for tetrapyrrole porphyrins. The intensity of the Q00 band decreases as the meso-aryl groups become more electron withdrawing. These characteristics can be rationalized by using Gouterman's four-orbital model as a conceptual framework. The MCD bands observed in the Q band region of the subporphyrins (subPs) spectra consistently show a -ve/+ve intensity pattern in ascending energy, while, in contrast, the sign sequence of the bands observed in the Soret band region change dramatically depending on the nature of the aryl groups: from +ve/-ve in the case of the electron withdrawing 4-pyridyl, 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl and 3-pyridyl groups to -ve only for phenyl and -ve/+ve for the electron donating 4-tolyl and 4-methoxyphenyl groups. S1 fluorescence emission was observed in the 490-620 nm region. The quantum yields (phiF) in benzene (phiF = 0.10-0.12) are similar to that of metal-free tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) (phiF = 0.11) but are somewhat lower in the case of ethanol (phiF = 0.06-0.07) due to the higher polarity. The redox potential differences observed between the first oxidation and reduction steps are in the 2.52-2.64 V range, which is larger than that of normal porphyrins (ca. 2.25 V). Molecular orbital (MO) calculations of these compounds help to provide an enhanced understanding of the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties. A byproduct of the synthesis was characterized using X-ray crystallography and a range of spectroscopic techniques. A subporphyrin mu-oxo dimer was prepared and characterized.     

First principle simulation of the temperature dependent magnetic circular dichroism of a trinuclear copper complex in the presence of zero field splitting

We present a test of a recently developed density functional theory (DFT) based methodology for the calculation of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra in the presence of zero-field splitting (ZFS). The absorption and MCD spectra of the trinuclear copper complex μ(3)O ([Cu(3)(L)(μ(3)-O)](4+)), which models the native intermediate produced in the catalytic cycle of the multicopper oxidases, have been simulated from first principle within the framework of adiabatic time dependent density functional theory. The effects of the ZFS of the quartet (4)A(2) ground state on the theoretical MCD spectrum of μ(3)O have been analyzed. The simulated spectra are consistent with the experimental ones. The theoretical assignments of the MCD spectra are based on direct simulation as well as a detailed analysis of the molecular orbitals in μ(3)O. Some of the assignments differ from those given in previous studies. The ZFS effects in the presence of a strong external magnetic field (7 T) prove negligible. The change of the sign of the ZFS changes systematically the intensity of the MCD bands of the z-polarized excitations. The effect of the ZFS on the x,y-polarized excitations is not uniform.     

Mono-aromatic ring-fused versus adjacently di-aromatic ring-fused tetraazaporphyrins: regioselective synthesis and their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties

A method which preferentially produces adjacently di-aromatic ring-substituted tetraazaporphyrins (TAPs) has been developed, and their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties have been studied and compared with those of the corresponding series of mono-aromatic ring-fused TAPs. Mono-aromatic ring-fused TAPs show a split Q-band, and the splitting energy increases with increasing size of the aromatic ring. In addition, for the split Q-bands, the relative intensity of the band at longer wavelength decreases with increasing molecular size of the fused aromatics, compared with the shorter wavelength band. In the di-aromatic ring-fused TAPs, this kind of splitting is not seen, and only a shift of the band is observed. The intensity and band position of the split or unsplit Q-bands are quantitatively evaluated by simultaneous band deconvolution analysis, using both electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra. The preparation of these TAP compounds has made it possible to adjust the Q-band position in a stepwise manner between ca. 600 and 750 nm. The first reduction and oxidation potentials of the TAP ring shift negatively with increasing number and size of the fused aromatics. The extent of the shift is found to be very small for the LUMOs but significant for the HOMOs. These spectroscopic and electrochemical properties are almost perfectly reproduced by molecular orbital calculations within the framework of the Pariser-Parr-Pople approximation. In particular, a small variation of the LUMO level and large destabilization of the HOMO level on ring expansion are rationalized from the extent of stretch of molecular orbitals: i.e., since the LUMOs are localized in the central TAP moiety irrespective of the molecular size, while the HOMOs have appreciable coefficients even over the fused aromatics, the HOMO level destabilizes while the LUMO level remains constant with increasing molecular size. In one CoTAP derivative, Co(III/II) and the first ligand oxidation couples occur experimentally at the same potential.     

Highly Pure Synthesis,Spectral Assignments,and Two‐Photon Properties of Cruciform Porphyrin Pentamers Fused with Benzene Units

Tetrameric porphyrin formation of 2‐hydroxymethylpyrrole fused with porphyrins through a bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene unit gave bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene‐fused porphyrin pentamers. Thermal conversion of the pentamers gave fully π‐conjugated cruciform porphyrin pentamers fused with benzene units in quantitative yields. UV/Vis spectra of fully π‐conjugated porphyrin pentamers showed one very strong Q absorption and were quite different from those of usual porphyrins. From TD‐DFT calculations, the HOMO level is 0.49 eV higher than the HOMO?1 level. The LUMO and LUMO+1 levels are very close and are lower by more than 0.27 eV than those of other unoccupied MOs. The strong Q absorption was interpreted as two mutually orthogonal single‐electron transitions (683 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO; 680 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO+1). The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross section value (σ⁽²⁾) of the benzene‐fused porphyrin pentamer was estimated to be 3900 GM at 1500 nm, which is strongly correlated with a cruciform molecular structure with multidirectional π‐conjugation pathways.     

Electronic structure, spectra, and magnetic circular dichroism of cyclohexa-, cyclohepta-, and cyclooctapyrrole

Three recently obtained expanded porphyrins represent nice examples of compounds for which the electronic and spectral properties can be predicted from symmetry considerations alone. Perimeter-model-based theoretical analysis of the electronic structure of doubly protonated cyclo[6], cyclo[7], and cyclo[8]pyrrole leads to the anticipation of qualitatively the same electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism patterns for all three compounds. These predictions are fully confirmed by experiments, as well as DFT and INDO/S calculations. Due to a characteristic pattern of frontier molecular orbitals, a degenerate HOMO and a strongly split LUMO pair, the three cyclopyrroles show comparable absorption intensity in the Q and Soret regions. Magnetic circular dichroism spectra reveal both A and B Faraday terms, of which the signs and magnitudes are in remarkably good agreement with theoretical expectations. The values of the magnetic moments of the two lowest degenerate excited states have also been obtained.     

Photoinduced charge transfer in short-distance ferrocenylsubphthalocyanine dyads

Two new ferrocenylsubphthalocyanine dyads with ferrocenylmethoxide (2) and ferrocenecarboxylate (3) substituents directly attached to the subphthalocyanine ligand via the axial position have been prepared and characterized using NMR, UV-vis, and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies as well as X-ray crystallography. The redox properties of the ferrocenyl-containing dyads 2 and 3 were investigated using the cyclic voltammetry (CV) approach and compared to those of the parent subphthalocyanine 1. CV data reveal that the first reversible oxidation is ferrocene-centered, while the second oxidation and the first reduction are localized on the subphthalocyanine ligand. The electronic structures and nature of the optical bands observed in the UV-vis and MCD spectra of all target compounds were investigated by a density functional theory polarized continuum model (DFT-PCM) and time-dependent (TD)DFT-PCM approaches. It has been found that in both dyads the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to HOMO-2 are ferrocene-centered molecular orbitals, while HOMO-3 as well as lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and LUMO+1 are localized on the subphthalocyanine ligand. TDDFT-PCM data on complexes 1-3 are consistent with the experimental observations, which indicate the dominance of π-π* transitions in the UV-vis spectra of 1-3. The excited-state dynamics of the dyads 2 and 3 were investigated using time-correlated single photon counting, which indicates that fluorescence quenching is more efficient in dyad 3 compared to dyad 2. These fluorescence lifetime measurements were interpreted on the basis of DFT-PCM calculations.     

The first TDDFT and MCD studies of free base triarylcorroles: a closer look into solvent-dependent UV-visible absorption

Absorption spectra of several free base triarylcorroles were investigated by MCD spectroscopy. The MCD spectra exhibit unusual sign-reverse (positive-to-negative intensities in ascending energy) features in the Soret- and Q-type band regions, suggesting a rare ΔHOMO < ΔLUMO relationship between π and π* MOs in the corrole core.     

The Origin of the Halogen Effect on the Phthalocyanine Green Pigments

The structure and the electronic and optical properties of halogenated copper‐phthalocyanine (nα,mβ(Hal)‐CuPc) molecules are investigated, according to the variation in the substituted halogen‐atom species (Hal=Cl or Br) at the α and β positions of isoindole ring with different numbers (n and m=0, 4, 8, or 16). Our results show that the halogen effect mainly results from a structural deformation rather than caused by electronic effects. A nonplanar deformation of the phthalocyanine chromophore of the nα,mβ(Hal)‐CuPc molecule causes a significant change only in the HOMO and HOMO‐1 levels, rather than in the LUMO levels, which leads to the appearance of a green color arising from the large red‐shifts of the Soret and Q bands. The present result may serve as an important reference point for designing novel halogen‐free green pigments, in accordance with the environmental regulations for the restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) in electronic and electrical devices.     

Magnetic circular dichroism study of directly fused porphyrins.

The magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of doubly and triply linked fused bisporphyrins (2MD and 2MT, M = Ni, Zn, Cu, Pd, and H2) and triply linked higher oligomers (3ZnT and 4ZnT) have been measured, and their Q-bands assigned based on the results of INDO/s calculations. In contrast to the Faraday A term observed for the Q(0,0) band of Ni(II) tetraphenylporphyrin, a single positive Faraday B term was observed for the lowest energy transition of the fused systems. The calculations indicated that the molecular orbitals (MOs) of the directly fused porphyrins consist of linear combinations of the constituent monomeric MOs, and that the effect of lowering the symmetry is always larger on the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) than on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO). On the basis of Michl's perimeter model, these features can be correlated with the observed positive MCD signs in the near infrared region. A weak absorption band at 600-700 nm for the fused dimers can be assigned to a short-axis polarized Q transition.