Regiospecifically alpha-13C-labeled porphyrins for studies of ground-state hole transfer in multiporphyrin arrays

Insight into the electronic communication between the individual constituents of multicomponent molecular architectures is essential for the rational design of molecular electronic and/or photonic devices. To clock the ground-state hole/electron-transfer process in oxidized multiporphyrin architectures, a p-diphenylethyne-linked zinc porphyrin dyad was prepared wherein one porphyrin bears two (13)C atoms and the other porphyrin is unlabeled. The (13)C atoms are located at the 1- and 9-positions (alpha-carbons symmetrically disposed to the position of linker attachment), which are sites of electron/spin density in the a(1u) HOMO of the porphyrin. The (13)C labels were introduced by reaction of KS(13)CN with allyl bromide to give the allyl isothiocyanate, which upon Trofimov pyrrole synthesis followed by methylation gave 2-(methylthio)pyrrole-2-(13)C. Reaction of the latter with paraformaldehyde followed by hydrodesulfurization gave dipyrromethane-1,9-(13)C, which upon condensation with a dipyrromethane-1,9-dicarbinol bearing three pentafluorophenyl groups gave the tris(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin bearing (13)C labels at the 1,9-positions and an unsubstituted meso (5-) position. Zinc insertion, bromination at the 5-position, and Suzuki coupling with an unlabeled porphyrin bearing a suitably functionalized diphenylethyne linker gave the regiospecifically labeled zinc porphyrin dyad. Examination of the monocation of the isotopically labeled dyad via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (and comparison with the monocations of benchmark monomers, where hole transfer cannot occur) showed that the hole transfer between porphyrin constituents of the dyad is slow (<10(6) s(-1)) on the EPR time scale at room temperature. The slow rate stems from the a(1u) HOMO of the electron-deficient porphyrins, which has a node at the site of linker connection. In contrast, analogous dyads of electron-rich porphyrins (wherein the HOMO is a(2u) and has a lobe at the site of linker connection) studied previously exhibit rates of hole transfer that are fast (>5 x 10(7) s(-1)) on the EPR time scale at room temperature.     

Design and synthesis of water-soluble bioconjugatable trans-AB-porphyrins

Three free base porphyrins have been prepared that bear a polar and facially encumbering 2,4,6-tris-(carboxymethoxy)phenyl motif at one meso (5-) position. The only other substituent (15-position) comprises phenyl, formyl, or p-aminophenyl. The porphyrins exhibit solubility in water (or aqueous buffer solutions) at pH ≥7 and concentrations >1 mM at room temperature. The concise syntheses, water solubility, and bioconjugatable handle make these porphyrin constructs suitable for biological applications.     

Synthesis of Linear Amphipathic Porphyrin Dimers and Trimers: An Approach to Bilayer Lipid Membrane Spanning Porphyrin Arrays

A modular building-block approach has been developed for the construction of linear amphipathic porphyrin arrays. The reaction of meso-(trifluoromethyl)dipyrromethane and an aldehyde under the conditions of the two-step room temperature porphyrin synthesis affords the trans-substituted porphyrin (13-56% yields). A similar reaction with two different aldehydes provides access to porphyrins bearing two different functional groups. An ethyne porphyrin and an iodo porphyrin (either free base or zinc) are selectively joined via Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling reactions, affording a linear array with porphyrins in defined metalation states. Coupling of a zinc-porphyrin bearing iodo and ester groups with a free base porphyrin bearing ethyne and ester groups yielded the zinc-free base porphyrin dimer. Coupling of a bis-ethyne porphyrin with a porphyrin bearing iodo and ester groups afforded the porphyrin trimer. Cleavage of the esters yielded the amphipathic porphyrin dimer and trimer arrays. The arrays with adjacent zinc and free base porphyrins undergo efficient electronic energy transfer. Both amphipathic porphyrin arrays have been incorporated into L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine vesicles. This versatile synthetic strategy provides access to a family of porphyrin arrays for studies of photophysical processes in supramolecular assemblies.     

Masked imidazolyl-dipyrromethanes in the synthesis of imidazole-substituted porphyrins

Imidazole-substituted metalloporphyrins are valuable for studies of self-assembly and for applications where water solubility is required. Rational syntheses of porphyrins bearing one or two imidazol-2-yl or imidazol-4-yl groups at the meso positions have been developed. The syntheses employ dipyrromethanes, 1-acyldipyrromethanes, and 1,9-diacyldipyrromethanes bearing an imidazole group at the 5-position. The polar, reactive imidazole unit was successfully masked by use of (1) the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl (SEM) group at the imidazole pyrrolic nitrogen, and (2) a dialkylboron motif bound to the pyrrole of the dipyrromethane and coordinated to the imidazole imino nitrogen. The nonpolar nature of such doubly masked imidazolyl-dipyrromethanes facilitated handling. Selected masked dipyrromethanes were characterized by 11B and 15N NMR spectroscopy. Five distinct methods were examined to obtain trans-A2B2-, trans-AB2C-, and trans-AB-porphyrins. Each porphyrin contained one or two SEM-protected imidazole units. The SEM group could be removed with TBAF or HCl. Two zinc(II) porphyrins and a palladium(II) porphyrin bearing a single imidazole moiety were prepared and subjected to alkylation (with ethyl iodide, 1,3-propane sultone, or 1,4-butane sultone) to give water-soluble imidazolium- porphyrins. This work establishes the foundation for the rational synthesis of a variety of porphyrins containing imidazole units.     

Synthesis of "Porphyrin-linker-Thiol" molecules with diverse linkers for studies of molecular-based information storage

The attachment of redox-active molecules such as porphyrins to an electroactive surface provides an attractive approach for electrically addressable molecular-based information storage. Porphyrins are readily attached to a gold surface via thiol linkers. The rate of electron transfer between the electroactive surface and the porphyrin is one of the key factors that dictates suitability for molecular-based memory storage. This rate depends on the type and length of the linker connecting the thiol unit to the porphyrin. We have developed different routes for the preparation of thiol-derivatized porphyrins with eight different linkers. Two sets of linkers explore the effects of linker length and conjugation, with one set comprising phenylethyne units and one set comprising alkyl units. One electron-deficient linker has four fluorine atoms attached directly to a thiophenyl unit. To facilitate the synthesis of the porphyrins, convenient routes have been developed to a wide range of aldehydes possessing a protected S-acetylthio group. An efficient synthesis of 1-(S-acetylthio)-4-iodobenzene also has been developed. A set of porphyrins, each bearing one S-acetyl-derivatized linker at one meso position and mesityl moieties at the three remaining meso positions, has been synthesized. Altogether seven new aldehydes, eight free base porphyrins and eight zinc porphyrins have been prepared. The zinc porphyrins bearing the different linkers all form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold via in situ cleavage of the S-acetyl protecting group. The SAM of each porphyrin is electrochemically robust and exhibits two reversible oxidation waves.     

Synthesis of phenylethyne-linked porphyrin dyads

Four new porphyrin dyads have been prepared for studies in artificial photosynthesis. The two porphyrins are joined at the meso positions via a phenylethyne linker and are present in zinc/zinc or zinc/free base metalation states. The porphyrin bearing the ethynyl unit incorporates zero, one, or two pentafluorophenyl groups at non-linking meso positions for tuning the porphyrin redox potentials. The synthetic approach entailed Pd-mediated coupling of porphyrin building blocks that bear a single ethynylphenyl or bromo/iodo substituent.     

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 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.     

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.     

Investigation of the scope of a new route to ABCD-bilanes and ABCD-porphyrins

A new route to bilanes and porphyrins bearing four distinct meso substituents has been studied to elucidate the scope and gain entry to previously inaccessible compounds. The route entails (i) synthesis of a 1-bromo-19-acylbilane by acid-catalyzed condensation of a 1-acyldipyrromethane and a 9-bromodipyrromethane-1-carbinol and (ii) intramolecular cyclization of the 1-bromo-19-acylbilane in the presence of a metal salt (MgBr2, 3 mol equiv) and a non-nucleophilic base (DBU, 10 mol equiv) in a noncoordinating solvent (toluene) at 115 degrees C exposed to air to afford the corresponding magnesium(II) porphyrin. In this study, two sets of bilanes were initially prepared to explore substituent effects. In the first set, all bilanes vary only in the nature of the substituent at the 10-position. In the second set, all bilanes vary only in the nature of the substituent attached to the acyl unit (the 20-position). The substituents examined at the 10- and 20-positions include alkyl, aryl (electron-rich, electron-deficient, hindered), heteroaryl, ester, or no substituent (-H). The bilanes were obtained in 35-87% yield, and the target porphyrins in up to 60% yield. Further study of the scope focused on bilanes and porphyrins bearing three heterocyclic substituents (o-, m-, p-pyridyl) or four alkyl groups (ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl), in which case microwave irradiation was used for the porphyrin-forming step. Altogether, 17 bilanes and 19 porphyrins were prepared and characterized. In summary, the new route provides access to meso-substituted bilanes and porphyrins for which access is limited via other methods.     

Effect of meso-substituents on the osmium tetraoxide reaction and pinacol-pinacolone rearrangement of the corresponding vic-dihydroxyporphyrins

To investigate the effects of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents upon the reaction of porphyrins with osmium tetraoxide, and the pinacol-pinacolone rearrangement of the resulting diols, a series of meso-substituted porphyrins were prepared by total synthesis. Porphyrins with electron-donating substitutents at the meso-positions gave vic-dihydroxychlorins in which the adjacent pyrrole subunit was predominantly oxidized. No such selectivity was observed in a porphyrin containing a methoxycarbonyl as the electron-withdrawing group, whereas a formyl substituent again resulted in oxidation at the pyrrole unit adjacent to the meso-substituent. Under pinacol-pinacolone conditions, vic-dihydroxy chlorins containing 4-methoxyphenyl or 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl groups at the meso-position showed preferential migration of the ethyl group over the methyl group to give 8-ketochlorins, whereas the diol with an n-heptyl substituent under similar reaction conditions gave both 7- and 8-ketochlorins. In contrast, the diol containing a meso-formyl substituent produced the corresponding 7-ketochlorin exclusively. These results indicate that it is not possible to predict the reactivity of meso-substituted porphyrins in the osmium tetraoxide reaction nor the general substituent migratory aptitudes in the pinacol-pinacolone rearrangement based on simple electronic arguments, most likely because many parameters (e.g., meso-beta-pyrrolic steric crowding and long-range electronic effects) ultimately determine the reactivity. The structural assignments of the porphyrin diols and the keto-analogues were confirmed by extensive (1)H NMR studies; some of the dihydroxychlorins and ketochlorins were found to display unusual features in their (1)H NMR spectra.     

New route to ABCD-porphyrins via bilanes

A new strategy for preparing porphyrins that bear up to four different meso-substituents (ABCD-porphyrins) relies on two key reactions. One key reaction entails a directed synthesis of a 1-protected 19-acylbilane by acid-catalyzed condensation at high concentration (0.5 M) of a 1-acyldipyrromethane and a 9-protected dipyrromethane-1-carbinol (derived from a 9-protected 1-acyldipyrromethane). Three protecting groups (X) were examined, including thiocyanato, ethylthio, and bromo, of which bromo proved most effective. The bilanes were obtained in 72-80% yield, fully characterized, and examined by 15N NMR spectroscopy. The second key reaction entails a one-flask transformation of the 1-protected 19-acylbilane under basic, metal-templating conditions to give the corresponding metalloporphyrin. The reaction parameters investigated for cyclization of the bilane include solvent, metal salt, base, concentration, temperature, atmosphere, and time. The best conditions entailed the 1-bromo-19-acylbilane at 100 mM in toluene containing DBU (10 mol equiv) and MgBr2 (3 mol equiv) at 115 degrees C exposed to air for 2 h, which afforded the magnesium porphyrin in 65% yield. The magnesium porphyrin is readily demetalated to give the free base porphyrin. A stepwise procedure (which entailed treatment of the 1-(ethylthio)-19-acylbilane to oxidation, metal complexation, desulfurization, carbonyl reduction, and acid-catalyzed condensation) was developed but was much less efficient than the one-flask process. The new route to ABCD-porphyrins retains the desirable features of the existing "2 + 2" (dipyrromethane + dipyrromethane-1,9-dicarbinol) method, such as absence of scrambling, yet has significant advantages. The advantages include the absence of acid in the porphyrin-forming step, the use of a metal template for cyclization, the ability to carry out the reaction at high concentration, the lack of a quinone oxidant, avoidance of use of dichloromethane, and the increased yield of macrocycle formation to give the target ABCD-metalloporphyrin.     

The dithianyl group as a synthon in porphyrin chemistry: condensation reactions and preparation of formylporphyrins under basic conditions

Vilsmeier formylation is one of the most widely used substitution reactions for the functionalization of porphyrins. However, its utility is limited by the electrophilic/acidic reaction conditions, deactivation of the aromatic system and regiochemical problems, the requirement for metal complexes and necessity for subsequent demetalation under harsh conditions, and low functional group tolerance. To overcome these limitations, the dithianyl group has been utilized as a latent formyl synthon in porphyrin chemistry. 2-Formyl-1,3-dithiane can be used directly in pyrrole condensation reactions to regioselectively yield porphyrins with up to four dithianyl residues. Likewise, 5-dithianyldipyrromethane could be prepared quantitatively as a key building block for various porphyrin condensation reactions yielding the respective free base formylporphyrins after deprotection. Additionally, dithianyllithium can be used as a reagent for the direct aromatic substitution of metallo- and free base porphyrins under nucleophilic conditions.     

Novel Zinc Porphyrin Sensitizers for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Synthesis and Spectral,Electrochemical, and Photovoltaic Properties

Novel meso‐ or β‐derivatized porphyrins with a carboxyl group have been designed and synthesized for use as sensitizers in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The position and nature of a bridge connecting the porphyrin ring and carboxylic acid group show significant influences on the spectral, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties of these sensitizers. Absorption spectra of porphyrins with a phenylethynyl bridge show that both Soret and Q bands are red‐shifted with respect to those of porphyrin 6 . This phenomenon is more pronounced for porphyrins 3 and 4 , which have a π‐conjugated electron‐donating group at the meso position opposite the anchoring group. Upon introduction of an ethynylene group at the meso position, the potential at the first oxidation alters only slightly whereas that for the first reduction is significantly shifted to the positive, thus indicating a decreased HOMO–LUMO gap. Quantum‐chemical (DFT) results support the spectroelectrochemical data for a delocalization of charge between the porphyrin ring and the amino group in the first oxidative state of diarylamino‐substituted porphyrin 5 , which exhibits the best photovoltaic performance among all the porphyrins under investigation. From a comparison of the cell performance based on the same TiO₂ films, the devices made of porphyrin 5 coadsorbed with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on TiO₂ in ratios [ 5 ]/[CDCA]=1:1 and 1:2 have efficiencies of power conversion similar to that of an N3 ‐based DSSC, which makes this green dye a promising candidate for colorful DSSC applications.     

REGIOSELECTIVE PHOTOREDUCTION OF ZINC(II) PORPHYRINS TO GIVE CHLORINS

The ascorbic acid/organic base photoreduction of zinc(II) porphyrins was investigated. It was established that certain substituents can direct the photoreduction to the site of the macrocycle to which they are attached. For example, zinc(II) vinylporphyrins (8, 12, 16, 20) are photoreduced with cis stereochemistry on the ring bearing the vinyl group to give the corresponding chlorins. Zinc(II) acetylporphyrins (22, 24) were likewise reduced to chlorins such that cis-hydrogenation took place on the ring bearing the acetyl group. Zinc(II) formylporphyrins 33 also appear to reduce at the ring bearing the formyl group. When the zinc(II) acrylic porphyrin 28 was photoreduced, reduction did take place at the ring bearing the acrylic side chain, but migration of the acrylate double bond was very rapid, and the product isolated was the corresponding porphyrin propionate 30. Reduction of a zinc(II) porphyrin 35 bearing both a vinyl group and a nuclear carboxylic ester took place at the ring bearing the carboxylic ester. The reaction provides a general method for regioselective synthesis of chlorins from zinc(II) porphyrins without any evidence of formation of over-reduction products characteristic of many other procedures for formation of chlorins from porphyrin precursors.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 2-(porphyrin-2-yl)-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of porphyrins bearing 1,3-dicarbonyl moieties at the β-position is described. The new compounds were further functionalized and new derivatives containing an heterocyclic ring, an ethyl acetate residue or a 2-oxopropyl group at the β-position have been obtained.     

Precise synthesis of porphyrin array scaffolding polyisocyanides

Aryl isocyanides bearing free‐base and metallo‐porphyrins were prepared and polymerized with a Pd–Pt μ‐ethynediyl complex as the initiator to give polymers with narrow polydispersity indices. The molecular weights of the resulting polymers were precisely controlled by the initial feed ratio of the porphyrin monomer to the initiator. The UV–VIS spectra suggested that the porphyrin pendants are regularly arranged to form stacked columns. Metallo‐porphyrin polymers were also prepared by reacting free‐base porphyrin polymers with metal salts. The successive reactions of free‐base and zinc‐porphyrin monomers resulted in the formation of diblock polymers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 585–595, 2006     

Atropisomers of meso Tetra(N-Mesyl Pyrrol-2-yl) Porphyrins: Synthesis,Isolation and Characterization of All-Pyrrolic Porphyrins

Atropisomerism has been observed in a variety of biaryl compounds and meso-aryl substituted porphyrins. However, in porphyrins, this phenomenon had been shown only with o-substituted 6-membered aromatic groups at the meso-position. We show herein that a 5-membered heteroaromatic (N-mesyl-pyrrol-2-yl) group at the meso-position leads to atropisomerism. In addition, we report a ‘one-pot’ synthetic route for the synthesis of ‘all-pyrrolic’ porphyrin (APP) with several N-protection groups (Boc, Cbz, Ms and Ts). Among these groups, we found that only the Ms group gave four individually separable atropisomers of meso-tetra(N-Ms-pyrrol-2-yl) porphyrin. Furthermore, the reductive removal of Cbz- was achieved to obtain meso-tetra(pyrrol-2-yl) porphyrin. Thus, our synthetic procedure provides an easy access to a group of APPs and stable atropisomers, which is expected to expand the application of novel APP-based materials.     

A self-assembled light-harvesting array of seven porphyrins in a wheel and spoke architecture

[reaction: see text]A shape-persistent cyclic array of six zinc porphyrins provides an effective host for a dipyridyl-substituted free base porphyrin, yielding a self-assembled structure for studies of light harvesting. Energy transfer occurs essentially quantitatively from uncoordinated to pyridyl-coordinated zinc porphyrins in the cyclic array. Energy transfer from the coordinated zinc porphyrin to the guest free base porphyrin is less efficient (phitrans approximately 40%) and is attributed to a F?rster through-space process.     

A tightly coupled linear array of perylene, bis(porphyrin), and phthalocyanine units that functions as a photoinduced energy-transfer cascade

We have prepared a linear array of chromophores consisting of a perylene input unit, a bis(free base porphyrin) transmission unit, and a free base phthalocyanine output unit for studies in artificial photosynthesis and molecular photonics. The synthesis involved four stages: (1) a rational synthesis of trans-AB2C-porphyrin building blocks each bearing one meso-unsubstituted position, (2) oxidative, meso,meso coupling of the zinc porphyrin monomers to afford a bis(zinc porphyrin) bearing one phthalonitrile group and one iodophenyl group, (3) preparation of a bis(porphyrin)-phthalocyanine array via a mixed cyclization involving the bis(free base porphyrin) and 4-tert-butylphthalonitrile, and (4) Pd-mediated coupling of an ethynylperylene to afford a perylene-bis(porphyrin)-phthalocyanine linear array. The perylene-bis(porphyrin)-phthalocyanine array absorbs strongly across the visible spectrum. Excitation at 490 nm, where the perylene absorbs preferentially, results in fluorescence almost exclusively from the phthalocyanine (phi(f) = 0.78). The excited phthalocyanine forms with time constants of 2 ps (90%) and 13 ps (10%). The observed time constants resemble those of corresponding phenylethyne-linked dyads, including a perylene-porphyrin (< or = 0.5 ps) and a porphyrin-phthalocyanine (1.1 ps (70%) and 8 ps (30%)). The perylene-bis(porphyrin)-phthalocyanine architecture exhibits efficient light-harvesting properties and rapid funneling of energy in a cascade from perylene to bis(porphyrin) to phthalocyanine.