Photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer process of fullerene (C60) and amine-substituted fluorenes studied by laser flash photolysis

Photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer process of fullerene (C60) with 9,9-bis(4-triphenylamino)fluorene (BTAF) and 9,9-dimethoxyethyl-2-diphenylaminofluorene (DAF) in toluene and benzonitrile has been investigated by nanosecond laser photolysis technique in the visible/near-IR regions. By the selective excitation of C60 using 532 laser light, it has been proved that the electron transfer takes place from the ground states BTAF and DAF to the triplet excited state of C60 ((3)C60*) by observing the radical anion of C60 and radical cation of BTAF and DAF. It was observed that the electron transfer of BTAF/(3)C60* is more efficient than DAF/(3)C60* reflecting the effect of amine-substitutents of the fluorene moiety on the efficiency of the electron transfer process. On addition of a viologen dication (OV(2+)), the electron of the anion radical of C60 mediates to OV(2+) yielding the OV(+). These results proved that the photosensitized electron-transfer/electron-mediating processes have been confirmed by the transient absorption spectral method.     

富勒烯(C60／C70)与N，N，N’，N’-四-(对甲苯基)-4，4’-二胺-1，1’-二苯硒醚(TPDASe)间光诱导电子转移过程的激光光解研究

富勒烯(C60／C70)与N，N，N’，N’-四-(对甲苯基)-4，4’-二胺-1，1’-二 苯硒醚(TPDASe)间在激光光诱导条件下，发生了分子间的电子转移过程．在可见- 近红外区(600-1200nm)，观测到了TPDASe阳离子自由基、富勒烯(C60／C70)激发三 线态和阴离子自由基，在苯腈溶液中，观测瞬态谱测定了电子从TPDASe转移到富勒 烯(C60／C70)激发三线态的量子转化产率(Φet^T)和电子转移常数(Ket)．     

Transient species of fullerenes studied with pulse radiolysis and laser photolysis

The excited triplet of C60 or C70 is generated via either direct excitation by laser light or energy transfer from excited states of solvent to C60 and C70. The cation radical of C60 is produced either via hole transfer from cation radical of CCl4 to C60 or via electron transfer from excited triplet of C60 to CCl4. C60 and C70 could be added to trichloromethyl radical to produce adduct radicals with different mechanisms.     

Evaluation of Transient Absorption Spectra of N, N, N, N- Tetra - ( p -methylphenyl ) - 4, 4- diamino - 1, 1- diphenyl Ether ( TPDAE ) for Electron Transfer from TPDAE to Fullerenes ( C_(60) / C_(70) ) by Laser Flash Photolysis

Fullerenes C60 and C70 have high electron affinity ( 2.6 - 2.8 ev ) and readily form anions on electronchemical reduction1, which were famous as electron acceptor in photo-excitation because of symmetrical shape, large size, and properties of its p - electron system2. After observation of molecular ferromagnetism3 in the tetrakis (dimethylamino ) ethylene salt of C60 as well as the occurrence of ultra-fast photoinduced electron transfer within the dimethyl aniline - C60 complex4, prompted us…     

Evaluation of Transient Absorption Spectra of N, N, N′, N′- Tetra - ( p -methylphenyl ) - 4, 4′- diamino - 1, 1′- diphenyl Ether ( TPDAE ) for Electron Transfer from TPDAE to Fullerenes ( C60 / C70 ) by Laser Flash Photolysis

Photoinduced electron transfer processes between fullerenes (C60 / C70) and N, N, N′, N′- tetra - ( p-methylphenyl ) - 4, 4′- diamino - 1, 1′- diphenyl ether ( TPDAE ) have been studied by nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Quantum yields and rate constants of electron transfer from TPDAE to excited triplet state of fullerenes (C60 / C70 ) in benzonitrile have been evaluated by observing the transient absorption bands in the near-IR region where the excited triplet state, radical anion of fullerenes ( C60 / C70 ) and radical cations of TPDAE appear.     

Photoinduced electron transfer competitive with energy transfer of the excited triplet state of [60]fullerene to ferrocene derivatives revealed by combination of transient absorption and thermal lens measurements

The quenching processes of the exited triplet state of fullerene (3C60) by ferrocene (Fc) derivatives have been observed by the transient absorption spectroscopy and thermal lens methods. Although 3C60 was efficiently quenched by Fc in the rate close to the diffusion controlled limit, the quantum yields (phi(et)) for the generation of the radical anion of C60 (C60*-) via 3C60 were quite low even in polar solvents; nevertheless, the free-energy changes (deltaG(et)) of electron transfer from Fc to 3C60 are sufficiently negative. In benzonitrile (BN), the phi(et) value for unsubstitued Fc was less than 0.1. The thermal lens method indicates that energy transfer from 3C60 to Fc takes place efficiently, suggesting that the excited triplet energy level of Fc was lower than that of 3C60. Therefore, energy transfer from 3C60 to ferrocene decreases the electron-transfer process from ferrocene to 3C60. To increase the participation of electron transfer, introduction of electron-donor substituents to Fc (phi(et) = 0.46 for decamethylferrocene in BN) and an increase in solvent polarity (phi(et) = 0.58 in BN:DMF (1:2) for decamethylferrocene) were effective.     

Scandium ion-promoted photoinduced electron-transfer oxidation of fullerenes and derivatives by p-chloranil and p-benzoquinone.

In the presence of scandium triflate, an efficient photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet excited state of C(60) to p-chloranil occurs to produce C(60) radical cation which has a diagnostic NIR (near-infrared) absorption band at 980 nm, whereas no photoinduced electron transfer occurs from the triplet excited state of C(60) (3C(60)) to p-chloranil in the absence of scandium ion in benzonitrile. The electron-transfer rate obeys pseudo-first-order kinetics and the pseudo-first-order rate constant increases linearly with increasing p-chloranil concentration. The observed second-order rate constant of electron transfer (k(et)) increases linearly with increasing scandium ion concentration. In contrast to the case of the C(60)/p-chloranil/Sc(3+) system, the k(et) value for electron transfer from 3C(60) to p-benzoquinone increases with an increase in Sc(3+) concentration ([Sc(3+)]) to exhibit a first-order dependence on [Sc(3+)], changing to a second-order dependence at the high concentrations. Such a mixture of first-order and second-order dependence on [Sc(3+)] is also observed for a Sc(3+)-promoted electron transfer from CoTPP (TPP(2-) = tetraphenylporphyrin dianion) to p-benzoquinone. This is ascribed to formation of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes between the generated semiquinone radical anion and Sc(3+) at the low and high concentrations of Sc(3+), respectively. The transient absorption spectra of the radical cations of various fullerene derivatives were detected by laser flash photolysis of the fullerene/p-chloranil/Sc(3+) systems. The ESR spectra of the fullerene radical cations were also detected in frozen PhCN at 193 K under photoirradiation of the fullerene/p-chloranil/Sc(3+) systems. The Sc(3+)-promoted electron-transfer rate constants were determined for photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet excited states of C(60), C(70), and their derivatives to p-chloranil and the values are compared with the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) levels of the fullerenes and their derivatives.     

Spiro[4.4]nonatetraene and its Positive and Negative Radical Ions: Molectronic Structure Investigations

The electronic structure of spiro[4.4]nonatetraene 1 as well as that of its radical anion and cation were studied by different spectroscopies. The electron‐energy‐loss spectrum in the gas phase revealed the lowest triplet state at 2.98 eV and a group of three overlapping triplet states in the 4.5 – 5.0 eV range, as well as a number of valence and Rydberg singlet excited states. Electron‐impact excitation functions of pure vibrational and triplet states identified various states of the negative ion, in particular the ground state with an attachment energy of 0.8 eV, an excited state corresponding to a temporary electron attachment to the 2b₁ MO at an attachment energy of 2.7 eV, and a core excited state at 4.0 eV. Electronic‐absorption spectroscopy in cryogenic matrices revealed several states of the positive ion, in particular a richly structured first band at 1.27 eV, and the first electronic transition of the radical anion. Vibrations of the ground state of the cation were probed by IR spectroscopy in a cryogenic matrix. The results are discussed on the basis of density‐functional and CASSCF/CASPT2 quantum‐chemical calculations. In their various forms, the calculations successfully rationalized the triplet and the singlet (valence and Rydberg) excitation energies of the neutral molecule, the excitation energies of the radical cation, its IR spectrum, the vibrations excited in the first electronic absorption band, and the energies of the ground and the first excited states of the anion. The difference of the anion excitation energies in the gas and condensed phases was rationalized by a calculation of the Jahn‐Teller distortion of the anion ground state. Contrary to expectations based on a single‐configuration model for the electronic states of 1 , it is found that the gap between the first two excited states is different in the singlet and the triplet manifold. This finding can be traced to the different importance of configuration interaction in the two multiplicity manifolds.     

Photoinduced energy and electron-transfer processes in porphyrin-perylene bisimide symmetric triads

The photophysics of two symmetric triads, (ZnP)2PBI and (H2P)2PBI, made of two zinc or free-base porphyrins covalently attached to a central perylene bisimide unit has been investigated in dichloromethane and in toluene. The solvent has been shown to affect not only quantitatively but also qualitatively the photophysical behavior. A variety of intercomponent processes (singlet energy transfer, triplet energy transfer, photoinduced charge separation, and recombination) have been time-resolved using a combination of emission spectroscopy and femtosecond and nanosecond time-resolved absorption techniques yielding a very detailed picture of the photophysics of these systems. The singlet excited state of the lowest energy chromophore (perylene bisimide in the case of (ZnP)2PBI, porphyrin in the case of (H2P)2PBI) is always quantitatively populated, besides by direct light absorption, by ultrafast singlet energy transfer (few picosecond time constant) from the higher energy chromophore. In dichloromethane, the lowest excited singlet state is efficiently quenched by electron transfer leading to a charge-separated state where the porphyrin is oxidized and the perylene bisimide is reduced. The systems then go back to the ground state by charge recombination. The four charge separation and recombination processes observed for (ZnP)2PBI and (H2P)2PBI in dichloromethane take place in the sub-nanosecond time scale. They obey standard free-energy correlations with charge separation lying in the normal regime and charge recombination in the Marcus inverted region. In less polar solvents, such as toluene, the energy of the charge-separated states is substantially lifted leading to sharp changes in photophysical mechanism. With (ZnP)2PBI, the electron-transfer quenching is still fast, but charge recombination takes place now in the nanosecond time scale and to triplet state products rather than to the ground state. Triplet-triplet energy transfer from the porphyrin to the perylene bisimide is also involved in the subsequent deactivation of the triplet manifold to the ground state. With (H2P)2PBI, on the other hand, the driving force for charge separation is too small for electron-transfer quenching, and the deactivation of the porphyrin excited singlet takes place via intersystem crossing to the triplet followed by triplet energy transfer to the perylene bisimide and final decay to the ground state.     

Synthesis and photoinduced electron transfer processes of rotaxanes bearing [60]fullerene and zinc porphyrin: effects of interlocked structure and length of axle with porphyrins

Three rotaxanes, with axles with two zinc porphyrins (ZnPs) at both ends penetrating into a necklace pending a C60 moiety, were synthesized with varying interlocked structures and axle lengths. The intra-rotaxane photoinduced electron transfer processes between the spatially positioned C60 and ZnP in rotaxanes were investigated. Charge-separated (CS) states (ZnP*+, C60*-)rotaxane are formed via the excited singlet state of ZnP (1ZnP*) to the C60 moiety in solvents such as benzonitrile, THF, and toluene. The rate constants and quantum yields of charge separation via 1ZnP decrease with axle length, but they are insensitive to solvent polarity. When the axle becomes long, charge separation takes place via the excited triplet state of ZnP (3ZnP*). The lifetime of the CS state increases with axle length from 180 to 650 ns at room temperature. The small activation energies of charge recombination were evaluated by temperature dependence of electron-transfer rate constants, probably reflecting through-space electron transfer in the rotaxane structures.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN CONDENSED MEDIA—II. TRIPLET STATE QUENCHING AND ELECTRON TRANSFER TO QUINONE IN LIPOSOMES*

The fate of excitation energy and electron transfer to quinones within Chl-a-containing phosphatidyl choline liposomes has been investigated. The bilayer membrane of the liposome stabilizes the Chl triplet state, as evidenced by a three-fold increase in the lifetime over that observed in ethanol solution. The relative triplet yield follows the relative fluorescence yield, indicative of quenching at the singlet level. Triplet state lifetimes are markedly shortened as the Chl concentration is increased, demonstrating that quenching occurs at the triplet level as well. This process is shown to be due to a collisional de-excitation. In the presence of quinones, the Chl triplet reduces the quinone resulting in production of long-lived electron transfer products. The percent conversion of Chl triplet to cation radical when benzoquinone is employed as acceptor is approximately 60 ± 10%, which is slightly less than in ethanol solution (70 ± 10%). The lifetime of the radical, however, can be as much as 1900 times longer. With respect to potentially useful photochemical energy conversion, the magnitude of this increased lifetime is far more significant than is the decreased radical yield.     

Time-resolved EPR study of the photophysics and photochemistry of 1-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl)-1-phenyl[6.6]C61

Time-resolved (TR) EPR was used to study the photophysics and photochemistry of 1-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl)-1-phenyl[6.6]C61 (M1). The CW TREPR spectra of M1 in the photoexcited triplet state, frozen in a rigid matrix and in liquid solution at room temperature, were compared with those of 3C60. The introduction of the substituent on C60 has a striking effect on the spectra of the triplets, which is attributed to the lifting of the orbital degeneracy by the reduction in symmetry. Fourier transform (FT) EPR was used in an investigation of electron-transfer reactions in liquid solutions mediated by 3M1. Of particular interest was the system of M1/chloranil (CA)/perylene (Pe). Photoexcitation of M1 is found to lead to the formation of the chloranil anion radical and the perylene cation radical. From the chemically induced dynamic electron polarization (CIDEP) patterns in the FTEPR spectra and the dependence of the reaction kinetics on reactant concentrations, it was deduced that CA- is formed by two competing pathways following photoexcitation of M1: (1) direct electron transfer from 3M1 to CA followed by electron transfer from Pe to M1+ and (2) energy transfer from 3M1 to Pe followed by oxidative quenching of 3Pe by CA. In both pathways, M1 acts as a light-energy harvester and mediator of electron-transfer reactions from Pe to CA without itself being consumed in the process, that is, as a photocatalyst. It is found that the functionalization of C60 makes its triplet state a worse electron donor and acceptor, but it has no significant effect on the triplet energy transfer reaction.     

Primary photochemical processes in dyads based on indocarbocyanine dyes and chlorin e<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The spectral-kinetic study of deactivation processes of the excited singlet and triplet states of indocarbocyanine dyes (Dye1, Dye2, and Dye3) and chlorin e₆ (Chl), which constitute dyads I–III (Dye-Chl), was performed. In dyad Dye1-Chl, deactivation of the excited singlet state of the dye occurs mainly due to inductive-resonance energy transfer to Chl with the efficiency of 97%. The consequence of the energy transfer is population of the triplet level of Chl due to singlet-triplet intersystem crossing. In dyads Dye2-Chl and Dye3-Chl, deactivation of the excited singlet state of Chl occurs mainly due to inductive-resonance energy transfer to the dye molecule. The transfer efficiency is 96% for dyad Dye2-Chl and 85% for dyad Dye3-Chl with the shorter length of the -(CH₂)-spacer, which binds the Dye3 and Chl molecules. In solutions of Chl and Dye2 (Dye3) mixtures in acetonitrile, exchange-resonance energy transfer occurs from the triplet level of Chl to the Dye2 (Dye3) molecule and electron transfer takes place involving triplet molecules of Dye2 (Dye3).     

Coumarin 314 free radical cation: formation, properties, and reactivity toward phenolic antioxidants

We have explored the photogeneration of the coumarin 314 radical cation by using nanosecond laser excitation at wavelengths longer than 400 nm in benzene, acetonitrile, dichloromethane, and aqueous media. In addition, time-resolved absorption spectroscopy measurements allowed detection of the triplet excited state of coumarin 314 (C(314)) with a maximum absorption at 550 nm in benzene. The triplet excited state has a lifetime of 90 μs in benzene. It is readily quenched by oxygen (k(q) = 5.0 × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)). From triplet-triplet energy transfer quenching experiments, it is shown that the energy of this triplet excited state is higher than 35 kcal/mol, in accord with the relatively large singlet oxygen quantum yield (Φ(Δ) = 0.25). However, in aqueous media, the coumarin triplet was no longer observed, and instead of that, a long-lived (160 μs in air-equilibrated solutions) free radical cation with a maximum absorbance at 370 nm was detected. The free radical cation generation, which has a quantum yield of 0.2, occurs by electron photoejection. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that at least 40% of the electronic density is placed on the nitrogen atom in aqueous media, which explains its lack of reactivity toward oxygen. On the other hand, rate constant values close to the diffusion rate limit in water (>10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) were found for the quenching of the C(314) free radical cation by phenolic antioxidants. The results have been interpreted by an electron-transfer reaction between the phenolic antioxidant and the radical cation where ion pair formation could be involved.     

Efficient photoreduction process of [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+ by electron-mediation via the viologen dication by excitation of a zinc porphyrin

Photoinduced electron-transfer and electron-mediation processes from the excited triplet state of zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (3ZnTPP) to the hexyl viologen dication (HV2+) in the presence of oxo-acetato-bridged triruthenium clusters, [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+, have been revealed by the transient absorption spectra in the visible and near-IR regions. By the nanosecond laser-flash photolysis of ZnTPP in the presence of HV2+ and [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+, the transient absorption bands of the radical cation of ZnTPP (ZnTPP*+) and the reduced viologen (HV*+) were initially observed with the concomitant decay of 3ZnTPP, after which an extra electron of HV*+ mediates to [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+, efficiently generating [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 with high potential. Although back-electron transfer took place between ZnTPP*+ and [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 in the diffusion-controlled limit, [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 accumulates at a steady concentration upon further addition of 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) as a sacrificial donor to re-produce ZnTPP from ZnTPP*+. Therefore, we established a novel system to accumulate [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 as an electron pool by the excitation of ZnTPP as photosensitizing electron donor in the presence of HV2+ and BNAH as an electron-mediating reagent and sacrificial donor, respectively. With the increase in the electron-withdrawing abilities of the ligands, the final yields of [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 increased.     

Unexpected photochemistry and charge-transfer complexes of [CB(11)H(12)](-) carborane

Although the [CB(11)H(12)](-) carborane does not exhibit an absorption band in UV, its triplet excited state can be generated upon 308 nm laser excitation; also unexpectedly carborane acts as electron donor forming a charge transfer complex with methylviologen that upon illumination gives rise to viologen radical cation.     

Ab initio study of the mechanism for photoinduced Yl-oxygen exchange in uranyl(VI) in acidic aqueous solution

The mechanism for the photochemically induced isotope-exchange reaction U(17/18)O2(2+)(aq) + H2(16)O <==> U(16)O2(2+)(aq) + H2(17/18)O has been studied using quantum-chemical methods. There is a dense manifold of states between 22,000 and 54,000 cm(-1) that results from excitations from the sigma(u) and pi(u) bonding orbitals in the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state to the nonbonding f(delta) and f(phi) orbitals localized on uranium. On the basis of investigations of the reaction profile in the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state and the excited states (3)Delta(g) (the lowest triplet state) and (3)Gamma(g) (one of the several higher triplet states), the latter two of which have the electron configurations sigma(u)f(delta) and pi(u)f(phi), respectively, we suggest that the isotope exchange takes place in one of the higher triplet states, of which the (3)Gamma(g) state was used as a representative. The geometries of the luminescent (3)Delta(g) state, the lowest in the sigma(u)f(delta,phi) manifold (the "sigma" states), and the (1)Sigma(g)(+) ground state are very similar, except that the bond distances are slightly longer in the former. This is presumably a result of transfer of a bonding electron to a nonbonding f orbital, which makes the excited state in some respects similar to uranyl(V). As is the case for all of the states of the pi(u)f(delta,phi) manifold (the "pi" states), the geometry of the (3)Gamma(g) state is very different from that of the (3)Delta(g) "sigma" state and has nonequivalent U-O(yl) distances of 1.982 and 1.763 A; in the (3)Gamma(g) state, the yl-exchange takes place by transfer of a proton or hydrogen from water to the more distant yl-oxygen. The activation barriers for proton/hydrogen transfer in the ground state and the (3)Delta(g) and (3)Gamma(g) states are 186, 219, and 84 kJ/mol, respectively. The relaxation energy for the (3)Gamma(g) state in the solvent after photoexcitation is -86 kJ/mol, indicating that the energy barrier can be overcome; the "pi" states are therefore the most probable route for proton/hydrogen transfer. They can be populated after UV irradiation but are too high in energy (approximately 36,000-40,000 cm(-1)) to be reached by a single-photon absorption at 436 nm (22,900 cm(-1)), where experimental data have demonstrated that exchange can take place. Okuyama et al. [Bull. Res. Lab. Nucl. React. (Tokyo Inst. Technol.) 1978, 3, 39-50] have demonstrated that an intermediate is formed when an acidic solution of UO2(2+)(aq) is flash-photolyzed in the UV range. The absorption spectrum of this short-lived intermediate (which has a maximum at 560 nm) indicates that this species arises from 436 nm excitation of the luminescent (3)Delta(g) state (which has a lifetime of approximately 2 x 10(-6) s); this is sufficient to reach the reactive "pi" states. It has been speculated that the primary reaction in acidic solutions of UO2(2+)(aq) is the formation of a uranyl(V) species; our results indicate that the structure in the luminescent state has some similarity to that of UO2(+) but that the reactive species in the "pi" states is a cation radical with a distinctly different structure.     

Photoinduced electron transfer of fullerenes (C60 and C70) studied by transient absorption measurements in near-IR region

Efficiencies and rates of electron transfer from various electron donors to excited fullerenes (C₆₀ and C₇₀) have been determined by observing the transient absorption bands in the near-IR region, where the anion radicals of fullerenes appear. From the rise of the absorption bands of C₆₀ ⁻⁺ and C₇₀ ⁻⁺ in the near-IR region, electron transfer takes place via the triplet states (^TC₆₀ ^* and ^TC₇₀ ^*) under appropriately low concentrations of electron donors. By analysis of the rise curves C₆₀ ⁻⁺ and C₇₀ ⁻⁺, contribution of the excited singlet states (^SC₆₀ ^* and ^SC₇₀ ^*) in addition to the route of the triplet states (^TC₆₀ ^* and ^TC₇₀ ^*) is confirmed. The quantum yield for electron transfer via the triplet states Φ_ct ^T was evaluated by the ratio of [C₆₀ ⁻⁺]/[^TC₆₀ ^*] (or [C₇₀ ⁻⁺/[^TC₇₀ ^*]). The Φ_ct ^T depends upon the donor-ability, donor concentration, and solvent polarity. The back electron-transfer process, which was evaluated by observing C₆₀ ⁻⁺, also depends upon the solvent polarity.     

Unusual role of oxygen in electron-transfer processes

Molecular oxygen's unique involvement in electron-transfer processes is demonstrated on a series of dyads between porphyrin derivatives and fullerene C60. It has been shown for the first time that oxygen can serve as an inhibitor of back electron transfer by enhancing intersystem crossing of a singlet radical ion pair into its triplet state. The effect is observed only when energy of the charge-separated state is lower than that of the locally excited triplet states. Due to the spin statistics, the reverse intersystem crossing is less efficient, allowing use of oxygen and other paramagnetic species for impeding charge recombination in various electron-transfer systems.     

Metal bacteriochlorins which act as dual singlet oxygen and superoxide generators

A series of stable free-base, Zn(II) and Pd(II) bacteriochlorins containing a fused six- or five-member diketo- or imide ring have been synthesized as good candidates for photodynamic therapy sensitizers, and their electrochemical, photophysical, and photochemical properties were examined. Photoexcitation of the palladium bacteriochlorin affords the triplet excited state without fluorescence emission, resulting in formation of singlet oxygen with a high quantum yield due to the heavy atom effect of palladium. Electrochemical studies revealed that the zinc bacteriochlorin has the smallest HOMO-LUMO gap of the investigated compounds, and this value is significantly lower than the triplet excited-state energy of the compound in benzonitrile. Such a small HOMO-LUMO gap of the zinc bacteriochlorin enables intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet excited state to the ground state to produce both the radical cation and the radical anion. The radical anion thus produced can transfer an electron to molecular oxygen to produce superoxide anion which was detected by electron spin resonance. The same photosensitizer can also act as an efficient singlet oxygen generator. Thus, the same zinc bacteriochlorin can function as a sensitizer with a dual role in that it produces both singlet oxygen and superoxide anion in an aprotic solvent (benzonitrile).