Syntheses of Chalcone‐Type Chlorophyll Derivatives Possessing a Bacteriochlorin,Chlorin or Porphyrin π‐System and Their Optical Properties

C3‐(Trans‐2‐arylethenyl)carbonylated chlorophyll derivatives possessing a bacteriochlorin or chlorin π‐system were synthesized by cross‐aldol (Claisen–Schmidt) condensation of methyl pyrobacteriopheophorbide‐a or 3‐acetyl‐3‐devinyl‐pyropheophorbide‐a bearing the C3‐acetyl group with p‐(un)substituted benzaldehydes under basic conditions. The corresponding porphyrin‐type chlorophyll derivatives were prepared by the oxidation (17,18‐didehydrogenation) of the chlorin‐type. Their Qy absorption and fluorescence emission maxima in dichloromethane correlated well with Hammett substituent constants of the p‐substituents. Several electron‐withdrawing p‐substituents suppressed the emission due to photoinduced electron transfer quenching in a molecule. The substitution sensitivities for their maxima and fluorescence quantum yields decreased in the order of bacteriochlorin‐, chlorin‐ and porphyrin‐type derivatives.     

Synthesis of Zinc Chlorophyll Homo/Hetero‐Dyads and their Folded Conformers with Porphyrin,Chlorin, and Bacteriochlorin π‐Systems

Zinc complex of pyropheophorbide‐b, a derivative of chlorophyll‐b, was covalently dimerized through ethylene glycol diester. The synthetic homo‐dyad was axially ligated with two methanol molecules from the β‐face and both the diastereomerically coordinating methanol species were hydrogen bonded with the keto‐carbonyl groups of the neighboring chlorin in a complex. The resulting folded conformer in a solution was confirmed by visible, ¹H NMR and IR spectra. All the synthetic zinc chlorin homo‐ and hetero‐dyads consisting of pyropheophorbides‐a, b and/or d took the above methanol‐locked and π–π stacked supramolecules in 1% (v/v) methanol and benzene to give redmost (Qy) electronic absorption band(s) at longer wavelengths than those of the corresponding monomeric chlorin composites. The other zinc chlorin and bacteriochlorin homo‐dyads completely formed similar folded conformers in the same solution, while zinc inverse chlorin and porphyrin homo‐dyads partially took such supramolecules. The J‐type aggregation to folded conformers and the redshift values of composite Qy bands were dependent on the electronic and steric factors of porphyrinoid moieties in dyads.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry of Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin on Glassy‐Carbon and Paraffin‐Impregnated Graphite Electrode

Electrochemical oxidation of sodium copper chlorophyllin (CHL) has been investigated at a glassy‐carbon (GC) and paraffin‐impregnated graphite electrode (PIGE) using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Square‐wave voltammograms of other two chlorin‐type compounds, namely chlorin e₆ and chlorophyll a, have been studied as well. The measurements were performed in the pH range between 7 and 11. The square‐wave frequency was changed between 8 and 1000 Hz. The oxidation of studied chlorins is a complex, pH‐independent, reversible or quasireversible process, followed by the chemical transformation of the product. The product of the EC reaction of CHL is an electroactive π? π dimer, which strongly adsorbs on the electrode surface and undergoes further oxidation at more positive potential. The electrooxidation of the adsorbed dimer is a pH‐independent irreversible process with the formation of an electroinactive film. The voltammetric behaviour of chlorin e₆ on PIGE was qualitatively similar to that of CHL. The SW voltammograms of chlorin e₆ recorded on GCE and of chlorophyll a recorded on PIGE consisted of only one peak. The SW responses of studied compounds strongly depend on the stabilization of the reaction intermediate by adsorption to the electrode surface.     

Nonlinear Optical Properties of Porphyrin Derivatives with Electron‐donating or Electron‐withdrawing Substituents

To investigate photoelectric properties of meso‐extended porphyrin derivatives with electron‐donating or electron‐withdrawing substituents, a series of functionalized porphyrin materials have been designed and synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction. The meso‐extended structures were fully characterized by ¹H NMR, IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The photophysical properties of porphyrin derivatives were carefully examined by UV‐Visible and fluorescence spectra, and the solvatochromic effect was observed and discussed. In particular, Z‐scan technique was employed to characterize the third‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the products such as nonlinear absorption and refraction, the third‐order nonlinear refractive indexes (??⁽³⁾‐value) of these porphyrin derivatives achieved 3.9×10^?12 esu. In addition, the compounds could be self‐assembled into highly organized morphologies through phase‐exchange method. All the results indicated that the discotic materials have the potential for optoelectronic applications.     

Porphyrinogens and porphodimethenes,intermediates in the synthesis of meso-tetraphenylporphins from pyrroles and benzaldehyde

The reaction between pyrroles and benzaldehyde in refluxing acetic acid gives meso-tetraphenylporphins and chlorins. The initial condensations give a porphyrinogen which undergoes an acid catalyzed autoxidation to porphyrin via a porphodimethene. The chlorin is shown to be derived from the reduction of porphyrin.     

Controlled porphyrinogen oxidation for the selective synthesis of meso-tetraarylchlorins

Chlorins have been synthesized through the reduction of the corresponding porphyrins although theoretically they can be obtained from reduced macrocycle forms as porphyrinogens. A new method for the oxidation of meso-tetraarylporphyrinogens was developed generating a substantial amount of chlorin relatively to porphyrin. The structure of the porphyrinogen, particularly the presence of substituents on the meso-phenyl groups, is decisive for the final yield of chlorin. In the case of meso-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrinogen, 92% of the corresponding chlorin is obtained.     

Cyclophane‐Type Chlorin Dimers from Dynamic Covalent Chemistry of 2,18‐Porphyrinyl Dicyanomethyl Diradicals

2,18‐Bis(dicyanomethyl)‐substituted Ni^II porphyrin 8 and Zn^II porphyrin 11 were prepared and subjected to oxidation with PbO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at 298 K to give cyclophane‐type chlorin dimers ( 9 )₂ and ( 12 )₂ as a consequence of double recombination of biradicals 9 and 12 , respectively. Dimer ( 9 )₂ takes a syn‐conformation of two distorted Ni^II chlorins but ( 12 )₂ takes an anti‐conformation of relatively planar Zn^II chlorins. At 298 K, dimer ( 9 )₂ is stable and its ¹H NMR spectrum is sharp but becomes broad at high temperature, while the ¹H NMR spectrum of ( 12 )₂ is considerably broad even at 298 K but becomes sharper at low temperature. These results indicate that the chlorin dimers dissociate to radical species, but the activation barrier of the dissociation of ( 12 )₂ is much less than that of ( 9 )₂. The involvement of diradicals in dynamic covalent chemistry has been suggested by thermal scrambling of hetero dimer ( 16 )₂ to give homo dimers ( 9 )₂ and ( 15 )₂.     

Syntheses and reactions of porphyrin and metalloporphyrin polymers

Various porphyrin functions such as protoporphyrin IX and chlorin a as well as metalloporphyrin functions such as Mg(II)– and Cu(II)–chlorophyllin a and Fe(III)– and Co(II)–protoporphyrin IX were incorporated into vinyl polymers by preparation and polymerization of their p-vinylbenzyl esters. The porphyrin function was also incorporated by reaction of poly-p-chloromethylstyrene with porphyrins or metalloporphyrins or by the reaction of p-aminostyrene polymers with chlorophyll b through Schiff-base formation. Mg(II)–porphyrin polymers were found to be remarkably effective as catalysts in photoredox systems; porphyrin polymers without central metal atoms were also effective to a lesser extent.     

Porphyrin derivatives act as vinylene monomers in TEMPO‐mediated radical copolymerization with styrene

In this article, we offer clear evidence for the radical copolymerizability of porphyrin rings in 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO)‐mediated radical copolymerizations with styrene. The radical copolymerizations of styrene with 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (H₂TFPP) was conducted using 1‐phenyl‐1‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy)ethane as an initiator. The refractive index (RI) traces for the size‐exclusion chromatography of the resulting copolymers were unimodal with narrow molecular weight distributions. The RI traces shifted toward higher molecular weight regions as the polymerization progressed, and the number‐average molecular weights were close to those calculated on the basis of the feed compositions and monomer conversions. These features were in good agreement with a TEMPO‐mediated mechanism. The traces recorded by the ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) detector (430 nm) were identical to those obtained by the RI detector, indicating a statistical copolymerization of styrene with H₂TFPP. This also indicated that H₂TFPP acted as a monomer and not as a terminator or a chain‐transfer agent under the conditions used. A benzyl radical addition to H₂TFPP was conducted as a model reaction for the copolymerization using tributyltin hydride as a chain‐transfer agent, affording a reduced porphyrin, 2‐benzyl‐5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)chlorin 1 , via radical addition to the β‐pyrrole position. The UV‐vis spectrum of 1 was fairly similar to that of poly(styrene‐co‐H₂TFPP), indicating that H₂TFPP polymerized at its β‐pyrrole position in the TEMPO‐mediated radical polymerization. TEMPO‐mediated radical copolymerizations of styrene with several porphyrin derivatives were also demonstrated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Time-Resolved Spectroscopic Study on Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Processes in Zn(II)porphyrin–Zn(II)chlorin–Fullerene Triad

Femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption studies have been performed to investigate the photoinduced energy and electron-transfer processes in Zn(II )porphyrin–Zn(II )chlorin–fullerene triad in which energy and oxidation potential gradients are directed along the donor–acceptor-linked arrays. Fast energy transfer (≈450 fs) from photoexcited Zn(II )porphyrin to Zn(II )chlorin was observed upon selective photoexcitation of Zn(II )porphyrin unit in the triad. In a nonpolar solvent such as toluene, the energy transfer from the excited singlet state of Zn(II )chlorin to fullerene occurs and is followed by the formation of an intermediate state with a time constant of nanoseconds, which was attributed to the intramolecular exciplex between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene. In benzonitrile, on the other hand, the photoexcitation of the triad results in the fast electron transfer (<1 ps) from photoexcited Zn(II )chlorin to fullerene. The generated charge-separated species recombine with a time constant of ≈12 ps. The relatively fast charge separation and charge recombination rates imply that the strong electronic coupling between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene moieties is probably induced by the folded conformation between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene moieties which enhances direct through-space interaction between the proximately contacted π systems.     

First macrocycle based on chlorin and isosteviol structural elements

Acylation by suberic acid chloride of chlorin with two oximated isosteviol groups on its periphery produced for the first time a macrocyclic system containing a porphyrin ring and two tetracyclic ent-beyerane frameworks.     

Mechanistic insights on the site selectivity in successive 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to meso-tetraarylporphyrins

A DFT study on site selectivity in successive 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of meso-tetraarylporphyrins with azomethine ylide and N-methylnitrone has been carried out. The calculation of the thermodynamic stability of both ylide and nitrone-derived adducts reveals that bacteriochlorins are more stable and have stronger aromatic character than isobacteriochlorins. Calculations of whole reaction pathways show that cycloadditions of azomethine ylide on porphyrin and its derived chlorin are irreversible and hence kinetically controlled. Solvent influence on the site selectivity of this reaction has also been considered, and appears to be decisive in controlling the site selectivity. In contrast, cycloadditions of nitrone over porphyrin and chlorin are clearly reversible, pointing to a thermodynamic control of these reactions.     

Strategic Construction of Directly Linked Porphyrin–BODIPY Hybrids

A powerful and concise synthesis of directly linked porphyrin‐BODIPY hybrids has been demonstrated, which consists of condensation of directly linked meso ‐pyrroyl Ni^II‐porphyrin with arylaldehyde, oxidation with p ‐chloranil, and complexation with BF₃⋅Et₂O. Synthesized hybrids include porphyrin dimer 6Ni , trimers 8Ni , 9Ni , tetramer 12Ni , pentamer 16Ni , hexamer 13Ni , and nonamers 17Ni and 18Ni . The structures of 6Ni , 9Ni and 12Ni were unambiguously confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Some Ni^II porphyrins were effectively converted to the corresponding Zn^II porphryins. In these hybrids, the pigments are three‐dimensionally arranged with a face‐to‐face dimeric porphyrin unit in a well‐defined manner, featuring their potential as light‐harvesting antenna and functional hosts.     

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.     

Imine Gels Based on Ferrocene and Porphyrin and Their Electrocatalytic Property

A series of porphyrin‐based imine gels have been synthesized via dynamic covalent gelation between 5,10,15,20‐tetra(4‐aminophenyl)‐21H,23H‐porphyrin (H₂TAPP) derivatives and various aldehyde compounds. The porphyrin‐ferrocene imine gels based on MTAPP (M=H₂, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Pd²⁺ and Zn²⁺) and ferrocene‐1,1′‐dicarbaldehyde (NA) display efficient HER, OER and ORR activities in alkaline media. Among the gels, CoTAPP‐NA shows an HER current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at low overpotential of 470 mV and small Tafel slope of 110 mV decade^?1 in alkaline media. CoTAPP‐NA also exhibits OER catalytic activity with low overpotential (416 mV for 10 mA cm^?2). CoTAPP‐NA shows ability in overall water splitting in alkaline media. In addition, CoTAPP‐NA exhibits onset potential (E_p) of 0.95 V and half‐wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.84 V in 1.0 mol L^?1 KOH solution for oxygen reduction. Moreover, the gel catalyst shows good stability.     

Synthesis of [n]Cyclo‐5,15‐porphyrinylene‐4,4′‐biphenylenes Displaying Size‐Dependent Excitation‐Energy Hopping

A set of 5,15‐biphenylene‐bridged porphyrin wheels, namely, [n]cyclo‐5,15‐porphyrinylene‐4,4′‐biphenylenes [n]CPB , have been synthesized through the platination of 5,15‐bis(4‐(pinacolboranyl)phenyl) nickel(II) porphyrin and subsequent reductive elimination of Pt^II(cod)‐bridged cyclic porphyrin intermediates. The calculated strain energies for [3]CPB , [4]CPB , [5]CPB , and [6]CPB are 49.3, 32.9, 23.5, and 16.0 kcal mol^?1, respectively. UV/Vis absorption spectra and cyclic voltammetry indicated characteristic ring‐size‐dependent absorption‐peak shifts and redox‐potential shifts, which presumably reflect the degree of strain in the π‐systems. Excitation‐energy hopping (EEH) times were determined to be 5.1, 8.0, 8.0, and 9.6 ps for [3]CPB , [4]CPB , [5]CPB , and [6]CPB , respectively, in a pump‐power‐dependent TA experiment.     

Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with a Self‐Assembling Reductant–Sensitizer–Catalyst System

A noble‐metal‐free system for photochemical hydrogen production is described, based on ascorbic acid as sacrificial donor, aluminium pyridyl porphyrin as photosensitizer, and cobaloxime as catalyst. Although the aluminium porphyrin platform has docking sites for both the sacrificial donor and the catalyst, the resulting associated species are essentially inactive because of fast unimolecular reversible electron‐transfer quenching. Rather, the photochemically active species is the fraction of sensitizer present, in the aqueous/organic solvent used for hydrogen evolution, as free species. As shown by nanosecond laser flash photolysis experiments, its long‐lived triplet state reacts bimolecularly with the ascorbate donor, and the reduced sensitizer thus formed, subsequently reacts with the cobaloxime catalyst, thereby triggering the hydrogen evolution process. The performance is good, particularly in terms of turnover frequencies (TOF=10.8 or 3.6 min^?1, relative to the sensitizer or the catalyst, respectively) and the quantum yield (Φ=4.6 %, that is, 9.2 % of maximum possible value). At high sacrificial donor concentration, the maximum turnover number (TON=352 or 117, relative to the sensitizer or the catalyst, respectively) is eventually limited by hydrogenation of both sensitizer (chlorin formation) and catalyst.     

Building from Ga‐Porphyrins: Synthesis of Ga‐Acetylide Complexes Using Acetylenes and Polyynes

Multidimensional, conjugated building blocks have been formed through the axial coordination of polyynes to the central Ga atom of tetraarylporphyrins. Electron deficient pentafluorophenyl substituents in the meso‐positions provide more stable σ‐acetylide complexes to Ga than analogous structures with tert‐butylphenyl groups. Mono‐, di‐, and triynes have been used, including a pyridyl endcapped diyne that allows for formation of porphyrin triads through coordination of the pyridyl ligand to a Ru porphyrin.     

A High‐Energy Charge‐Separated State of 1.70 eV from a High‐Potential Donor–Acceptor Dyad: A Catalyst for Energy‐Demanding Photochemical Reactions

A high potential donor–acceptor dyad composed of zinc porphyrin bearing three meso‐pentafluorophenyl substituents covalently linked to C₆₀, as a novel dyad capable of generating charge‐separated states of high energy (potential) has been developed. The calculated energy of the charge‐separated state was found to be 1.70 eV, the highest reported for a covalently linked porphyrin–fullerene dyad. Intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer leading to charge‐separated states of appreciable lifetimes in polar and nonpolar solvents has been established from studies involving femto‐ to nanosecond transient absorption techniques. The high energy stored in the form of charge‐separated states along with its persistence of about 50–60 ns makes this dyad a potential electron‐transporting catalyst to carry out energy‐demanding photochemical reactions. This type of high‐energy harvesting dyad is expected to open new research in the areas of artificial photosynthesis especially producing energy (potential) demanding light‐to‐fuel products.     

Pd–Porphyrin Oligomers Sensitized for Green‐to‐Blue Photon Upconversion: The More the Better?

A series of directly meso‐meso‐linked Pd–porphyrin oligomers (PdDTP‐M, PdDTP‐D, and PdDTP‐T) have been prepared. The absorption region and the light‐harvesting ability of the Pd–porphyrin oligomers are broadened and enhanced by increasing the number of Pd–porphyrin units. Triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA‐UC) systems were constructed by utilizing the Pd–porphyrin oligomers as the sensitizer and 9,10‐diphenylanthracene (DPA) as the acceptor in deaerated toluene and green‐to‐blue photon upconversion was observed upon excitation with a 532 nm laser. The triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion quantum efficiencies were found to be 6.2 %, 10.5 %, and 1.6 % for the [PdDTP‐M]/DPA, [PdDTP‐D]/DPA, and [PdDTP‐T]/DPA systems, respectively, under an excitation power density of 500 mW cm^?2. The photophysical processes of the TTA‐UC systems have been investigated in detail. The higher triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion quantum efficiency observed in the [PdDTP‐D]/DPA system can be rationalized by the enhanced light‐harvesting ability of PdDTP‐D at 532 nm. Under the same experimental conditions, the [PdDTP‐D]/DPA system produces more ³DPA* than the other two TTA‐UC systems, benefiting the triplet–triplet annihilation process. This work provides a useful way to develop efficient TTA‐UC systems with broad spectral response by using Pd–porphyrin oligomers as sensitizers.