Rational syntheses of cyclic hexameric porphyrin arrays for studies of self-assembling light-harvesting systems.

Two new cyclic hexameric arrays of porphyrins have been prepared in a rational, convergent manner. The porphyrins in each cyclic hexamer are joined by diphenylethyne linkers affording a wheel-like array with a diameter of approximately 35 A. One array is comprised of five zinc (Zn) porphyrins and one free base (Fb) porphyrin (cyclo-Zn(5)FbU) while the other is comprised of an alternating sequence of two Zn porphyrins and one Fb porphyrin (cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)FbU). The prior synthesis employed a one-flask template-directed process and afforded alternating Zn and Fb porphyrins or all Zn porphyrins. More diverse metalation patterns are attractive for manipulating the flow of excited-state energy in the arrays. The rational synthesis of each array employed three Pd-mediated coupling reactions with four tetraarylporphyrin building blocks bearing diethynyl, diiodo, bromo/iodo, or iodo/ethynyl groups. The final ring closure yielding the cyclic hexamer was achieved by reaction of a porphyrin pentamer + porphyrin monomer or the joining of two porphyrin trimers. In the presence of a tripyridyl template, the yields of the 5 + 1 and 3 + 3 reactions ranged from 10 to 13%. The 5 + 1 reaction in the absence of the template proceeded in 3.5% yield, thereby establishing the structure-directed contribution to cyclic hexamer formation. The 3 + 3 route relied on successive ethyne + iodo/bromo coupling reactions. One template-directed route to cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)FbU employed a magnesium porphyrin, affording cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)MgU from which magnesium was selectively removed. The arrays exhibit absorption spectra that are nearly the sum of the spectra of the component parts, indicating weak electronic coupling. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the quantum yield of energy transfer in toluene at room temperature from the Zn porphyrins to the Fb porphyrin(s) was 60% in cyclo-Zn(5)FbU and 90% in cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)FbU. Two dipyridyl-substituted porphyrins, a Zn tetraarylporphyrin and a Fb oxaporphyrin, have been synthesized for use as guests in the cyclic hexamers, affording self-assembled arrays for light-harvesting studies.     

Synthesis and recognition properties of a ruthenium(II)-bis(zinc) cyclic porphyrin trimer

A series of cyclic metalloporphyrin trimers containing one Ru(II)-CO porphyrin center are synthesized. A stepwise convergent route is used to synthesize Ru(CO)Zn(2)2.Py3T, where tripyridyltriazine (Py3T) templates the formation of the trimer and forces the CO group to the outside of the cavity. Three mixed-metal trimers, Ru(CO)Zn(2)2, Ru(CO)Ni(2)2, and Ru(CO)Mg(2)2, are synthesized from Ru(CO)Zn(2)2.Py3T and are characterized by NMR, UV-visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The Ru(CO)Zn(2)2 trimer is found to bind Py3T very tightly (K approximately 10(12) M-1), the resultant complex dissociating very slowly (kdissoc approximately 3 x 10(-7) s-1) in CDCl3 at 60 degrees C. During the course of these studies, the binding selectivity of a ruthenium porphyrin monomer, Ru(CO)3, for pyridine over THF is estimated to be ca. 7 x 10(4):1.     

Kinetic fluorimetric determination of Cu(II) and Zn(II) by their incorporation reactions into a water-soluble porphyrin

Kinetics of incorporation of Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni and Mn divalent ions into coproporphyrin-I in imidazole buffer solution, pH 7.0, has been studied by monitoring the decrease in fluorescence intensity of the free base porphyrin. All reactions followed simple second-order rate law, the rate constants being decreased in the order Zn > Cu > Co > Fe > Mn, Ni. the kinetic fluorimetric method for the determination of Cu(II) and Zn(II) using their incorporation reactions into the porphyrin was developed. Initial rate and fixed-time methods were used to construct calibration graphs over the range 0-1.0 x 10(-5)M of both metals. The analytical characteristics of the method and effect of foreign ions were determined. In the presence of sodium thiosulphate as the masking reagent the determination of micromolar concentrations of Zn in the presence of a 10-fold excess of Cu is possible.     

A directly fused tetrameric porphyrin sheet and its anomalous electronic properties that arise from the planar cyclooctatetraene core

Oxidation of a directly meso-meso linked cyclic porphyrin tetramer 2 gave a porphyrin sheet 3. The symmetric square structure of 3 is indicated by its simple 1H NMR spectrum that exhibits only two signals for the porphyrin beta-protons. The absorption spectrum of 3 displays characteristic Soret-like broad bands and weak Q-bands, and its magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectrum exhibits a negative Faraday A term at the 762 nm band as a rare case, indicating the absorption as a transition from a nondegenerate level to a degenerate level. A slightly longer S1-state (1.1 ps) and smaller TPA cross section (2750 GM) than a tetrameric linear porphyrin tape also indicate its unique electronic properties. The porphyrin sheet 3 forms stable 1:2 complexes with guest molecules G1 and G2, whose 1H NMR spectra exhibit remarkable downfield shifts for the guest protons that are located just above the cyclooctatetraene (COT) core of 3, whereas the imidazolyl protons bound to the zinc(II) porphyrin local cores are observed at slightly upfield positions. These results have been qualitatively accounted for in terms of the presence of a strong paratropic ring current around the COT core that propagates through the whole pi-electronic network of 3, hence competing with and cancelling the weak diatropic ring currents of the local zinc(II) porphyrins. This explanation was supported by DFT calculation performed at the GIAO-B3LYP/6-31G level, which indicated large positive NICS values within the COT core and small NICS values within the local zinc(II) porphyrins.     

Recognition through self-assembly. A quadruply-hydrogen-bonded, strapped porphyrin cleft that binds dipyridyl molecules and a [2]rotaxane

Quadruply-hydrogen-bonded porphyrin homodimer Zn1.Zn1 has been designed, assembled, and evaluated as a supramolecular cleft-featured receptor for its ability to bind dipyridyl guests in chloroform-d. Monomer Zn1 consists of a 2-ureidopyrimidin-4(1H)-one unit, which was initially reported by Meijer et al., and a zinc porphyrin unit. The zinc porphyrin is strapped with an additional aliphatic chain for controlling the atropisomerization of porphyrin. The 2-ureidopyrimidin-4(1H)-one unit dimerizes exclusively in chloroform even at the dilute concentration of 10(-)(4) M, while the two "strapped" zinc porphyrin units of the homodimer provide additional binding sites for selective guest recognition. (1)H NMR studies indicate that the new homodimer Zn1.Zn1 adopts an S-type conformation due to strong donor-acceptor interaction between the electron-rich porphyrin units and the electron-deficient 2-ureidopyrimidin-4(1H)-one unit. (1)H NMR, UV-vis, and vapor pressure osmometry investigations reveal that Zn1.Zn1 could function as a new generation of assembled supramolecular cleft, to be able to not only efficiently bind linear dipyridyl molecules 14-17, resulting in the formation of stable termolecular complexes, with K(aasoc) values ranging from 3.8 x 10(6) to 8.9 x 10(7) M(-)(1), but also strongly complex a hydrogen-bond-assembled [2]rotaxane, 18, which consists of a rigid fumaramide thread and a pyridine-incorporated tetraamide cyclophane, with K(aasoc) = 1.2 x 10(4) M(-)(1). (1)H NMR competition experiments reveal that complexation to the dipyriyl guests also promotes the stability of the quadruply-hydrogen-bonded dimeric receptor.     

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.     

Synthesis of cyclic hexameric porphyrin arrays. Anchors for surface immobilization and columnar self-assembly

To investigate new architectures for the self-assembly of multiporphyrin arrays, a one-flask synthesis of a shape-persistent cyclic hexameric array of porphyrins was exploited to prepare six derivatives bearing diverse pendant groups. The new arrays contain 6-12 carboxylic acid groups, 12 amidino groups, 6 thiol groups, or 6 thiol groups and 6 carboxylic acid groups in protected form (S-acetylthio, TMS-ethyl, TMS-ethoxycarbonyl). The arrays contain alternating Zn and free base (Fb) porphyrins or all Zn porphyrins. The one-flask synthesis entails a template-directed, Pd-mediated coupling of a p/p'-substituted diethynyl Zn porphyrin and a m/m'-substituted diiodo Fb porphyrin. The porphyrin building blocks (trans-A(2)B(2), trans-AB(2)C) contain the protected pendant groups at nonlinking meso positions. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a Zn(3)Fb(3) cyclic hexamer containing one thiol group on each porphyrin was prepared on a gold electrode and the surface-immobilized architecture was examined electrochemically. Together, the work reported herein provides cyclic hexameric porphyrin arrays for studies of self-assembly in solution or on surfaces.     

Excitation energy transport processes of porphyrin monomer,dimer, cyclic trimer,and hexamer probed by ultrafast fluorescence anisotropy decay

Femtosecond fluorescence anisotropy measurements for a variety of cyclic porphyrin arrays such as Zn(II)porphyrin m-trimer and hexamer are reported along with o-dimer and monomer as reference molecules. In the porphyrin arrays, a pair of porphyrin moieties are joined together via triphenyl linkage to ensure cyclic and rigid structures. Anisotropy decay times of the porphyrin arrays can be well described by the F?rster incoherent excitation hopping process between the porphyrin units. Exciton coupling strengths of 74 and 264 cm(-1) for the m-trimer and hexamer estimated from the observed excitation energy hopping rates are close to those of B800 and B850, respectively, in the LH2 bacterial light-harvesting antenna. Thus, these cyclic porphyrin array systems have proven to be useful in understanding energy migration processes in a relatively weak interaction regime in light of the similarity in overall structures and constituent chromophores to natural light-harvesting arrays.     

Neocuproine-extended porphyrin coordination complexes. 2. Spectroscopic properties of the metalloporphyrin derivatives and investigations into the HOMO ordering

The synthesis of a porphyrin compound, 1, containing a 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline moiety that is fused at the beta-pyrrole positions is reported. The absorption spectra of the free-base, copper(II), and zinc(II) derivatives have been studied. On the basis of absorption band intensities, the HOMO of the free base (H21) and its copper and zinc complexes (Cu1 and Zn1) was determined to be of a1u symmetry. Relative to H21, compounds Cul and Znl show enhanced spectral changes upon external metal ion binding. Although the HOMO is the same in all three compounds, the energy gap between the two highest occupied orbitals is greater for Cu1 and Zn1 than it is for the free-base compound. Several metal ions (Ni2+, Cu+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Li+) were examined in their binding to the phenanthrolinic group by measuring the resulting changes in the absorption spectra. It is shown that the observed changes in the absorption spectra are insensitive to the nature of the metal ion coordinated by the phenanthroline moiety. Significant differences in the absorption and emission spectra between Zn1 and [Zn(Zn1)2]2+ clearly demonstrate that the porphyrin pi-system is strongly affected by the binding of metal ions at the fused phenanthrolinic moiety.     

Observation of proton-coupled electron transfer by transient absorption spectroscopy in a hydrogen-bonded, porphyrin donor-acceptor assembly

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) kinetics of a Zn(II) porphyrin donor noncovalently bound to a naphthalene-diimide acceptor through an amidinium-carboxylate interface have been investigated by time-resolved spectroscopy. The S1 singlet excited-state of a Zn(II) 2-amidinium-5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrin chloride (ZnP-beta-AmH+) donor is sufficiently energetic (2.04 eV) to reduce a carboxylate-diimide acceptor (DeltaG degrees = -460 mV, THF). Static quenching of the porphyrin fluorescence is observed and time-resolved measurements reveal more than a 3-fold reduction in the S1 lifetime of the porphyrin upon amidinium-carboxylate formation (THF, 298 K). Picosecond transient absorption spectra of the free ZnP-beta-AmH+ in THF reveal the existence of an excited-state isosbestic point between the S1 and T1 states at lambdaprobe = 650 nm, providing an effective 'zero-kinetics' background on which to observe the formation of PCET photoproducts. Distinct rise and decay kinetics are attributed to the build-up and subsequent loss of intermediates resulting from a forward and reverse PCET reaction, respectively (kPCET(fwd) = 9 x 108 s-1 and kPCET(rev) = 14 x 108 s-1). The forward rate constant is nearly 2 orders of magnitude slower than that measured for covalently linked Zn(II) porphyrin-acceptor dyads of comparable driving force and D-A distance, establishing the importance of a proximal proton network in controlling charge transport.     

Tetrachelate porphyrin chromophores for metal oxide semiconductor sensitization: effect of the spacer length and anchoring group position

Four Zn(II)-tetra(carboxyphenyl)porphyrins in solution and bound to metal oxide (TiO2, ZnO, and ZrO2) nanoparticle films were studied to determine the effect of the spacer length and anchoring group position (para or meta) on their binding geometry and photoelectrochemical and photophysical properties. The properties of three types of anchoring groups (COOH and COONHEt3) for four Zn(II)-porphyrins (Zn(II)-5,10,15,20-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (p-ZnTCPP), Zn(II)-5,10,15,20-tetra(3-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (m-ZnTCPP), Zn(II)-5,10,15,20-tetra(3-(4-carboxyphenyl)phenyl)porphyrin (m-ZnTCP2P), and Zn(II)-5,10,15,20-tetra(3-ethynyl(4-carboxyphenyl)phenyl)porphyrin (m-ZnTC(PEP)P)) were compared. In m-ZnTCPP, m-ZnTCP2P, and m-ZnTC(PEP)P the four anchoring groups are in the meta position on the meso-phenyl rings of the porphyrin macrocycle, thus favoring a planar binding mode to the metal oxide surfaces. The three meta-substituted porphyrin salts have rigid spacer units of increasing length (phenyl (P), biphenyl (P2), and diphenylethynyl (PEP)) between the porphyrin ring and the carboxy anchoring groups, thus raising the macrocycle from the metal oxide surface. All porphyrins studied here, when bound to TiO2 and ZnO, exhibited quenching of the fluorescence emission, consistent with electron injection into the conduction band of the semiconductor. Steady-state UV-vis and fluorescence studies of p-ZnTCPP on insulating ZrO2 showed evidence of aggregation and exciton coupling. This was not observed in any of the meta-substituted porphyrins. The photoelectrochemical properties (IPCE, Voc, and Isc) of the porphyrins bound to TiO2 films in solar cells have been measured and rationalized with respect to the sensitizer binding geometry and distance from the surface.     

Photophysical properties of porphyrin tapes

The novel fused Zn(II)porphyrin arrays (Tn, porphyrin tapes) in which the porphyrin macrocycles are triply linked at meso-meso, beta-beta, beta-beta positions have been investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements along with theoretical MO calculations. The absorption spectra of the porphyrin tapes show a systematic downshift to the IR region as the number of porphyrin pigments increases in the arrays. The fused porphyrin arrays exhibit a rapid formation of the lowest excited states (for T2, approximately 500 fs) via fast internal conversion processes upon photoexcitation at 400 nm (Soret bands), which is much faster than the internal conversion process of approximately 1.2 ps observed for a monomeric Zn(II)porphyrin. The relaxation dynamics of the lowest excited states of the porphyrin tapes were accelerated from approximately 4.5 ps for the T2 dimer to approximately 0.3 ps for the T6 hexamer as the number of porphyrin units increases, being explained well by the energy gap law. The overall photophysical properties of the porphyrin tapes were observed to be in a sharp contrast to those of the orthogonal porphyrin arrays. The PPP-SCI calculated charge-transfer probability indicates that the lowest excited state of the porphyrin tapes (Tn) resembles a Wannier-type exciton closely, whereas the lowest excited state of the directly linked porphyrin arrays can be considered as a Frenkel-type exciton. Conclusively, these unique photophysical properties of the porphyrin tapes have aroused much interest in the fundamental photophysics of large flat organic molecules as well as in the possible applications as electric wires, IR sensors, and nonlinear optical materials.     

Fast energy transfer within a self-assembled cyclic porphyrin tetramer

The structure of a cyclic self-assembled tetramer of an asymmetric meso-ethynylpyridyl-functionalized Zn(II)-porphyrin was established by solution-phase X-ray scattering and diffraction; femtosecond transient absorption and anisotropy spectroscopies were used to (a) observe rapid energy transfer (3.8 ps(-1)) between porphyrin subunits and (b) establish that the transfer occurs between adjacent units.     

Resonance Raman studies of beta-substituted porphyrin systems with unusual electronic absorption properties.

Zn(II) and Cu(II) porphyrins with beta-conjugated barbiturate functional groups have low-energy electronic transitions which are unusual in that there are two strong bands in the Soret region. Resonance excitation of the two bands shows that each has features characteristic of both the porphyrin and barbiturate groups, with some perturbation to these features caused by the interaction of the two chromophores. The resonance Raman (RR) spectrum (lambda(exc)=413.1 nm) of the 412 nm band shows two bands at 1722 and 1743 cm(-1) attributable to C==O stretches in the substituent. Changes in frequency of porphyrin core modes due to the differing metal centres are reproduced by density functional theory calculations. The Q band RR spectra show modes with anomalous polarization which may be attributed to A(2g) modes, however no overtone or combination bands are observed.     

Exploration of electronically interactive cyclic porphyrin arrays

We have explored a variety of covalently and non-covalently assembled cyclic porphyrin arrays mainly as biomimetic models of light harvesting antenna in photosynthetic systems. The key reaction is Ag(I)-promoted coupling reaction of 5,15-diaryl zinc(II) porphyrin that provides a meso–meso linked diporphyrin. An advantage of this coupling reaction is its extremely easy extension to higher porphyrin arrays, since longer porphyrin arrays have practically the same reactivity as that of the monomer. On the basis of this strategy, we have prepared cyclic porphyrin arrays including directly meso–meso linked porphyrin rings CZ4–CZ8, large porphyrin wheels C12ZA and C24ZB, and three-dimensional porphyrin boxes D1–D3. Efficient excitation energy transfer along these cyclic porphyrin arrays has been revealed by the time-resolved transient absorption and fluorescence measurements.     

One-step template-directed synthesis of a macrocyclic tetraarylporphyrin hexamer based on supramolecular interactions with a C3-symmetric tetraarylporphyrin trimer

Taking into consideration the model geometry of the macrocyclic hexaporphyrin 1 as a host molecule, the structure of a benzene-centered porphyrin trimer bearing pyridine rings at the apical positions has been designed with the aim to use the latter as a template for the synthesis of its own host. Indeed, in the presence of the porphyrin trimer 5, the yield of the cyclization of a linear porphyrin hexamer, as a precursor of 1, could be improved from 8 to 30% (variable yield) to 50% (reproducible yield). Even the condensation of equimolecular amounts of porphyrin monomers 20b and 21b in the presence of 5 led--probably through a loose preorganized complex between the latter and the Zn(II) chelate 20b--to the formation of 1 in only five steps from 19, as compared with 13 steps of the synthesis via linear porphyrin hexamer in the absence of template. As evidenced by 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis of the supramolecular complex between 5 and an analogue of 1b in which all H-atoms at the pyrrole rings have been replaced by deuterium, in the presence of unlabeled 1b, a rapid dissociation and recombination of the host and guest molecules forming the supramolecular complex takes place even at low temperature (-40 degrees C). As at 55 degrees C all six Zn(II) porphyrinate rings of the complex 1b + 5 become magnetically equivalent in the 500 MHz 1H NMR time scale, approximate kinetic data for the ligand exchange process could be obtained.     

Synthesis and characterizations of free base and Cu(II) complex of a porphyrin sheet

Free base porphyrin sheet 5 was prepared by demetalation of zinc complex 1, which was now more conveniently prepared in 30% yield by oxidation of a mixture of tetraporphyrins, 8, 9, and 11. The ¹H NMR spectrum of 5 shows no indication of an aromatic ring current for the porphyrin rings and evidences the freezing of the pyrrolic NH protons at the most inner and outer corner positions, both of which contrast sharply with strong aromatic ring currents and rapid NH tautomerism of normal porphyrins. DFT calculations supported the experimental results, suggesting that the enforced planar COT core causes these unique properties. The free base 5 was transformed into Cu(II) complex 6 that exhibits antiferromagnetic interaction among the Cu(II) ions with J=−1.16 cm⁻¹.     

Sensitive and selective PET-based diimidazole luminophore for Zn(II) ions: a structure-activity correlation

3-(3-Ethoxymethyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-3-(1-ethoxymethyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-3H-benzo[de]isochromen-1-one, 4, is a novel photoinduced electron transfer (PET) chemosensor that becomes fluorescent upon binding metal ions and shows a strong preference toward Zn(II) ions. The new bisimidazol PET sensor and its zinc complex were prepared and characterized in terms of their crystal structures, absorption and emission spectra, and orbital energy diagrams. Free 4 is a weakly luminescent species. On the basis of detailed DFT calculations, we suggest that the poor luminescence yield of free 4 originates from its orbital structure in which two pi-orbitals of the two imidazole rings, HOMO and HOMO-1, are situated between two pi-orbitals of the isochromene-one system, HOMO-2 and LUMO. The absorption and emission processes occur between the two pi-orbitals of the isochromene-one system, HOMO-2 and LUMO, and the two pi-imidazole orbitals serve as quenchers for the excited state of the molecule through nonradiative processes. Upon binding Zn(II) ions, 4 becomes a highly luminescent species having a luminescence maximum peaking at 375 nm (lambda(ex) = 329 nm). The significant 900-fold enhancement in luminescence upon binding of the Zn(II) ions is attributed to the stabilization of the pi-orbitals of the imidazole rings upon their engagement in new bonds with the zinc ion. The affinity of 4 to zinc ions in acetonitrile is found to be very high, Ka > 3 x 10(6) M(-1), while with other metals ions, the association constants are considerably weaker.     

Voltammetric detection of organohalides by redox catalysis: improved sensitivity by immobilisation within a cubic phase liquid crystal

Two combined strategies are reported for improving the sensitivity of organohalide detection by redox catalysis. These are, improvement of the second order rate constant (k) for catalytic reduction of the organohalide, and improvement of the rate of substrate diffusion. Values of k are calculated for both alkyl and aryl halides, from slow scan rate cyclic voltammograms in homogeneous solution. It is shown that a Zn(ii) porphyrin exhibits higher catalytic rates than the previously used Co(ii) porphyrin or Co(i) salen. Amperometric and rotating disk electrode studies of electropolymerised films of the Zn(ii) porphyrin, reveal that at optimum thickness, mediator-substrate reaction and substrate diffusion are the rate limiting steps. Hence, immobilisation of the Zn(ii) porphyrin within the more open structure of a cubic phase liquid crystal produces an increase in sensitivity of approx. 10 times, and lowers the limit of detection by one order of magnitude. The optimised sensor responds linearly to seven organohalides in the range 0.1 microM to 1.0 microM with a sensitivity of 6.95 A M(-1) cm(-2). Chronoamperometric experiments with a microdisk electrode show that the rate of charge transport in the cubic phase films (apparent diffusion coefficient, D(E)= 5.65 x 10(-10)+/- 0.11 x 10(-10) cm(2) s(-1)) is faster than in the electropolymerised films (D(E)= 3.64 x 10(-11)+/- 0.02 x 10(-11) cm(2) s(-1)). The variation of D(E) with the concentration of Zn(ii) in the cubic phase suggests that diffusion of charge is predominantly by electron self-exchange, rather than by physical movement.     

Directly linked porphyrin arrays

The Ag(I)-promoted oxidative meso-meso coupling reaction of 5,15-diaryl Zn(II)-porphyrin was serendipitously found in the course of our synthetic approaches towards photosynthetic reaction centers. Based on this reaction, a variety of directly linked and fused porphyrin arrays have been synthesized, including linear meso-meso-linked porphyrin arrays, windmill- and grid-shaped porphyrin arrays, meso-beta singly linked diporphyrins, beta-beta linked diporphyrins, meso-beta doubly linked (fused) diporphyrins and oligoporphyrins, meso-meso beta-beta doubly linked (fused) diporphyrins, and meso-meso beta-beta-beta-beta triply linked (fused) diporphyrins. The meso-meso coupling reaction of 5,15-diaryl Zn(II)-porphyrins is advantageous considering its high regioselectivity as well as its ease of extension to large porphyrin arrays as is demonstrated by the synthesis of a discrete meso-meso-linked 128-mer and poly(5,15-porphyrinylene). Finally, the oxidation of end-phenyl capped meso-meso-linked zinc porphyrins with DDQ-Sc(OTf)(3) gave pi-conjugated flat porphyrin tapes. To the best of our knowledge, the meso-meso linked 128-mer is the longest man-made discrete molecule, and the porphyrin tape 12-mer is the most extensively conjugated porphyrin array, as evinced by the lowest electronic band peak at 3500 cm(-1).