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.     

A new route to meso-formyl porphyrins

Prior syntheses of porphyrins bearing meso-formyl groups have generally employed the Vilsmeier formylation of an acid-resistant copper or nickel porphyrin. A new approach for the synthesis of free base porphyrins bearing one or two (cis or trans) meso-formyl substituents entails the use of a dipyrromethane bearing an acetal group at the 5-position, a dipyrromethane-1-carbinol bearing an acetal group at the 5-position or carbinol position, or a dipyrromethane-1,9-dicarbinol bearing an acetal group at a carbinol position. Treatment of the resulting meso-acetal-substituted free base porphyrin to gentle acidic hydrolysis yields the corresponding meso-formyl porphyrin.     

Investigation of stepwise covalent synthesis on a surface yielding porphyrin-based multicomponent architectures

Porphyrins have been shown to be a viable medium for use in molecular-based information storage applications. The success of this application requires the construction of a stack of components ("electroactive surface/tether/charge-storage molecule/linker/electrolyte/top contact") that can withstand high-temperature conditions during fabrication (up to 400 degrees C) and operation (up to 140 degrees C). To identify suitable chemistry that enables in situ stepwise synthesis of covalently linked architectures on an electroactive surface, three sets of zinc porphyrins (22 altogether) have been prepared. In the set designed to form the base layer on a surface, each porphyrin incorporates a surface attachment group (triallyl tripod or vinyl monopod) and a distal functional group (e.g., pentafluorophenyl, amine, bromo, carboxy) for elaboration after surface attachment. A second set designed for in situ dyad construction incorporates a single functional group (alcohol, isothiocyanato) that is complementary to the functional group in the base porphyrins. A third set designed for in situ multad construction incorporates two identical functional groups (bromo, alcohol, active methylene, amine, isothiocyanato) in a trans configuration (5,15-positions in the porphyrin). Each porphyrin that bears a surface attachment group was found to form a good quality monolayer on Si(100) as evidenced by the voltammetric and vibrational signatures. One particularly successful chemistry identified for stepwise growth entailed reaction of a surface-tethered porphyrin-amine with a dianhydride (e.g., 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride), forming the monoimide/monoanhydride. Subsequent reaction with a diamine (e.g., 4,4'-methylene-bis(2,6-dimethylaniline)) gave the bis(imide) bearing a terminal amine. Repetition of this stepwise growth process afforded surface-bound oligo-imide architectures composed of alternating components without any reliance on protecting groups. Taken together, the ability to prepare covalently linked constructs on a surface without protecting groups in a stepwise manner augurs well for the systematic preparation of a wide variety of functional molecular devices.     

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

Understanding electronic communication among interacting chromophores provides the foundation for a variety of applications. The ground-state electronic communication in diphenylethyne-linked zinc-porphyrin dyads has been investigated by a novel molecular design strategy that entails introduction of a 13C-atom (*) at specific sites of the porphyrins where there is substantial electron density in the relevant frontier (highest occupied) molecular orbital. The site of 13C substitution is at a meso-position, either the site of attachment of the linker (proximal, "P") or the site trans to the linker (distal, "D"). The substituents (R) at the non-linking meso-positions are mesityl, tridec-7-yl ("swallowtail"), or p-tolyl groups. Altogether five isotopically labeled porphyrin dyads have been prepared. The hole/electron-transfer properties of one-electron oxidized dyads have been examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The introduction of the meso-13C label provides a "clock" (via the hyperfine interactions) that allows investigation of a time scale for hole transfer that is 3-4 times shorter than that provided by the natural abundance 14N nuclei of the pyrrole nitrogen atoms. The EPR studies indicate that the hole transfer, which has been previously shown to be fast on the time scale of the 14N hyperfine clock ( approximately 220 ns), remains fast on the time scale of the 13C hyperfine clock ( approximately 50 ns).     

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.     

Excited-state energy-transfer dynamics of self-assembled imine-linked porphyrin dyads

Toward the development of new strategies for the synthesis of multiporphyrin arrays, we have prepared and characterized (electrochemistry and static/time-resolved optical spectroscopy) a series of dyads composed of a zinc porphyrin and a free base porphyrin joined via imine-based linkers. One dyad contains two zinc porphyrins. Imine formation occurs under gentle conditions without alteration of the porphyrin metalation state. Five imine linkers were investigated by combination of formyl, benzaldehyde, and salicylaldehyde groups with aniline and benzoic hydrazide groups. The imine-linked dyads are quite stable to routine handling. The excited-state energy-transfer rate from zinc to free base porphyrin ranges from (70 ps)(-)(1) to (13 ps)(-)(1) in toluene at room temperature depending on the linker employed. The energy-transfer yield is generally very high (>97%), with low yields of deleterious hole/electron transfer. Collectively, this work provides the foundation for the design of multiporphyrin arrays that self-assemble via stable imine linkages, have predictable electronic properties, and have comparable or even enhanced energy-transfer characteristics relative to those of other types of covalently linked systems.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Opp‐Dibenzoporphyrins as a Light‐Harvester for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

New opp‐dibenzoporphyrins were prepared in a concise method that was based on a Pd⁰‐catalyzed cascade reaction. These porphyrins, which contained carboxylic‐acid linker groups on benzene rings that were fused to the porphyrin at their β,β′‐positions, were examined as sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells for the first time. Whereas all of the porphyrins showed solar‐energy‐to‐electricity conversion, an opp‐dibenzoporphyrin with conjugated carboxylic‐acid linkers displayed the highest conversion efficiency and an exceptionally high J_sc value. Cyclic voltammetry of these porphyrins suggested that the fusion of two aromatic benzene rings onto the periphery of the porphyrin lowered the HOMO–LUMO energy gap; the incorporation of a conjugated carboxylic‐acid linker group decreased the HOMO–LUMO gap even further. These CV data are consistent with DFT calculations for these porphyrins and agree well with the UV/Vis absorption‐ and fluorescence spectra of these porphyrins.     

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.     

Fabrications of potential imaging probes based on a β-alkyl substituted porphyrin with a terpyridine external coordination site

We report synthesis and coordination properties of β-alkyl porphyrin derivatives bearing terpyridylphenyl substituents at the meso-position and propionate side chains at the β-positions. Rhenium(I) carbonyl ion was encapsulated not in the core but in the external terpyridyl ligand. Such porphyrin-terpyridine hybrid porphyrins can be potentially available for less-invasive imaging like SPECT.     

Lead structures for applications in photodynamic therapy. Part 2: Synthetic studies for photo-triggered release systems of bioconjugate porphyrin photosensitizers

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) selectivity and specificity can be improved by binding the photosensitizers to target receptors. One approach is to cross-link porphyrins to a biological target receptor via the photocleavable o-nitrobenzyl linker, where a controlled released of the porphyrin can be monitored upon irradiation. The synthetic pathways involved esterification of a porphyrin-carboxylic acid and a unit containing the o-nitrobenzyl alcohol moiety and the bioconjugate. Reactions of a model porphyrin and o-nitrobenzyl alcohol using the carbonyl activating carbodiimide reagent DCC gave a stable N-acyl urea porphyrin, whereas use of EDAC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride) gave the desired compounds. Further studies were carried out on the attachment of carbohydrates (i.e., potentially receptor binding ligands) through such a linker to porphyrins. Preliminary irradiation experiments of such a compound show that upon UV irradiation (350 nm) for 80 min, approximately 50% of the porphyrin was cleaved to release the carboxylic acid porphyrin photosensitizer indicating the utility of such systems as photosensitizers delivery systems.     

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.     

A Light-Harvesting/Charge-Separation Model with Energy Gradient Made of Assemblies of meta-Pyridyl Zinc Porphyrins

Self-assembly of porphyrins is a fascinating topic, not only for mimicking chlorophyll assemblies in photosynthetic organisms, but also for the potential of creating molecular-level devices. Herein, zinc porphyrin derivatives bearing a meta-pyridyl group at the meso position were prepared and their assemblies studied in chloroform. Among the porphyrins studied, one with a carbamoylpyridyl moiety gave a distinct ¹H NMR spectrum in CDCl₃, which allowed the supramolecular structure in solution to be probed in detail. Ring-current-induced chemical-shift changes in the ¹H NMR spectrum, together with vapor-pressure osmometry and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy, among other evidence, suggested that the porphyrin molecules form a trimer with a triangular cone structure. Incorporation of a directly linked porphyrin–ferrocene dyad with the same assembling properties in the assemblies led to a rare example of a light-harvesting/charge-separation system in which an energy gradient is incorporated and reductive quenching occurs.     

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.     

A tin-complexation strategy for use with diverse acylation methods in the preparation of 1,9-diacyldipyrromethanes

The acylation of dipyrromethanes to form 1,9-diacyldipyrromethanes is an essential step in the rational synthesis of porphyrins. Although several methods for acylation are available, purification is difficult because 1,9-diacyldipyrromethanes typically streak extensively upon chromatography and give amorphous powders upon attempted crystallization. A solution to this problem has been achieved by reacting the 1,9-diacyldipyrromethane with Bu(2)SnCl(2) to give the corresponding dibutyl(5,10-dihydrodipyrrinato)tin(IV) complex. The reaction is selective for dipyrromethanes that bear acyl groups at both the 1- and 9-positions but otherwise is quite tolerant of diverse substituents. The diacyldipyrromethane-tin complexes are stable to air and water, are highly soluble in common organic solvents, crystallize readily, and chromatograph without streaking. Four methods (Friedel-Crafts, Grignard, Vilsmeier, benzoxathiolium salt) were examined for the direct 1,9-diacylation of a dipyrromethane or the 9-acylation of a 1-acyldipyrromethane. In each case, treatment of the crude reaction mixture with Bu(2)SnCl(2) and TEA at room temperature enabled facile isolation of multigram quantities of the 1,9-diacyldipyrromethane-tin complex. The diacyldipyrromethane-tin complexes could be decomplexed with TFA in nearly quantitative yield. Alternatively, use of a diacyldipyrromethane-tin complex in a porphyrin-forming reaction (reduction with NaBH(4), acid-catalyzed condensation with a dipyrromethane, DDQ oxidation) afforded the desired free base porphyrin in yield comparable to that obtained from the uncomplexed diacyldipyrromethane. The acylation/tin-complexation strategy has been applied to a bis(dipyrromethane) and a porphyrin-dipyrromethane. In summary, the tin-complexation strategy has broad scope, is compatible with diverse acylation methods, and greatly facilitates access to 1,9-diacyldipyrromethanes.     

Noncovalent binding between fullerenes and protonated porphyrins in the gas phase

Noncovalent interactions between protonated porphyrin and fullerenes (C?? and C??) were studied with five different meso-substituted porphyrins in the gas phase. The protonated porphyrin-fullerene complexes were generated by electrospray ionization of the porphyrin-fullerene mixture in 3:1 dichloromethane/methanol containing formic acid. All singly protonated porphyrins formed the 1:1 complexes, whereas porphyrins doubly protonated on the porphine center yielded no complexes. The complex ion was mass-selected and then characterized by collision-induced dissociation with Xe. Collisional activation exclusively led to a loss of neutral fullerene, indicating noncovalent binding of fullerene to protonated porphyrin. In addition, the dissociation yield was measured as a function of collision energy, and the energy inducing 50% dissociation was determined as a measure of binding energy. Experimental results show that C?? binds to the protonated porphyrins more strongly than C??, and electron-donating substituents at the meso positions increase the fullerene binding energy, whereas electron-withdrawing substituents decrease it. To gain insight into π-π interactions between protonated porphyrin and fullerene, we calculated the proton affinity and HOMO and LUMO energies of porphyrin using Hartree-Fock and configuration interaction singles theory and obtained the binding energy of the protonated porphyrin-fullerene complex using density functional theory. Theory suggests that the protonated porphyrin-fullerene complex is stabilized by π-π interactions where the protonated porphyrin accepts π-electrons from fullerene, and porphyrins carrying bulky substituents prefer the end-on binding of C?? due to the steric hindrance, whereas those carrying less-bulky substituents favor the side-on binding of C??.     

Segregated and alternately stacked donor/acceptor nanodomains in tubular morphology tailored with zinc porphyrin-C60 amphiphilic dyads: clear geometrical effects on photoconduction

Amphiphilic zinc porphyrin (P(Zn); electron donor, D)-fullerene (C(60); electron acceptor, A) dyads 2 and 3, bearing an identical hydrophilic wedge with triethylene glycol chains but different linkers between the P(Zn) and C(60) units, self-assemble into nanotubes with essentially different dimensional and geometrical features from one another. The nanotube from dyad 2 with an ester linker consists of a bilayer wall formed with coaxially segregated D and A nanodomains along the tube axis (coaxial D-A heterojunction), thereby displaying explicit photoconductivity with ambipolar carrier transport properties. In contrast, the nanotube from dyad 3 with a rigid arylacetylene linker consists of a monolayer wall with an alternate geometry of D/A stacking, resulting in poor photoconducting outputs. Such a geometrical difference also significantly affects the photovoltaic properties.     

Porphyrin dyads bearing carbon tethers for studies of high-density molecular charge storage on silicon surfaces

Redox-active molecules that afford high charge density upon attachment to an electroactive surface are of interest for use in molecular-based information-storage applications. One strategy for increasing charge density is to covalently link a second redox center to the first in an architecture that uses the vertical dimension in essentially the same molecular footprint. Toward this end, a set of four new porphyrin dyads have been prepared and characterized. Each dyad consists of two zinc porphyrins, an intervening linker (p-phenylene or 4,4'-diphenylethyne), and a surface attachment group (ethynyl or triallyl group). The porphyrin dyads were attached to an electroactive Si(100) surface and interrogated via electrochemical and FTIR techniques. The charge density obtainable for the ethynyl-functionalized porphyrin dyads is approximately double that observed for an analogously functionalized monomer, whereas that for the triallyl-functionalized dyads is at most 40% larger. These results indicate that the molecular footprint of the former dyads is similar to that of a monomer while that of the latter dyads is larger. For both the ethynyl- and triallyl-functionalized porphyrin dyads, higher charge densities (smaller molecular footprints) are obtained for the molecules containing the 4,4'-diphenylethyne versus the p-phenylene linker. This feature is attributed to the enhanced torsional flexibility of the former linker compared with that of the latter, which affords better packed monolayers. The FTIR studies indicate that the adsorption geometry of all the dyads is qualitatively similar and similar to that of monomers. However, the dyads containing the 4,4'-diphenylethyne linker sit somewhat more upright on the surface than those containing the p-phenylene linker, generally consistent with the smaller molecular footprint for the former dyads. Collectively, the high surface charge density (34-58 muC.cm(-)(2)) of the porphyrin dyads makes these constructs viable candidates for molecular-information-storage applications.