Synthesis and fluorescence properties of covalently linked homo- and hetero-porphyrin dyads containing meso-tolyl porphyrin and meso-furyl porphyrin sub-units

Three porphyrin building blocks with N₄, N₃S and N₂S₂ cores having three meso-furyl groups and one meso-iodophenyl group were synthesized and characterized. The porphyrin building blocks were used to synthesize six porphyrin dyads such as N₄-N₄, N₃S-N₃S, N₂S₂-N₂S₂, N₄-N₃S, N₄-N₂S₂ and N₃S-N₂S₂ containing meso-tolyl and meso-furyl porphyrin sub-units under mild Pd(0) mediated coupling conditions. Steady state fluorescence studies indicated an efficient energy transfer from the meso-tolyl porphyrin sub-unit to the meso-furyl porphyrin sub-unit in all six dyads. This study supported the argument that the meso-furyl porphyrins can be used as good energy acceptors when meso-aryl porphyrins act as energy donors in their metal free form.