Valence isomerization in dendrimers by photo-induced electron transfer and energy transfer from the dendrimer backbone to the core

A series of poly(aryl ether) dendrimers with a norbornadiene (NBD) group attaching to the core (Gn-NBD), generations 1–4, were synthesized and characterized, and their photophysical and photochemical properties were examined. The fluorescence of the dendrimer backbone is quenched by the norbornadiene group as a result of the electron transfer and energy transfer from the dendrimer backbone to the norbornadiene group in Gn-NBD. Selective excitation of the dendrimer backbone results in an isomerization of the norbornadiene group to the quadricyclane (QC) group. The intramolecular electron transfer and energy transfer efficiencies are ca. 0.93, 0.73, 0.54, 0.30 in dichloromethane, and ca. 0.90, 0.70, 0.55, 0.34 in tetrahydrofuran for generations 1–4, respectively, with the rate constant ca. 10¹⁰ s⁻¹. The light-harvesting ability of these dendritic molecules is demonstrated by the enhanced valence isomerization rate of NBD to QC with increasing generation.     

Light-harvesting and photoisomerization in benzophenone and norbornadiene-labeled poly(aryl ether) dendrimers via intramolecular triplet energy transfer

A series of benzophenone (BP) and norbornadiene (NBD)-labeled poly(aryl ether) dendrimers (Gn-NBD), generations 1-4, were synthesized, and their photophysical and photochemical properties were examined. The phosphorescence of the peripheral BP (donor) chromophore was efficiently quenched by the NBD (acceptor) group attached to the focal point. Time-resolved spectroscopic measurements indicated that the lifetime of the triplet state of the BP chromophore was shortened due to the proximity of the NBD group. Selective excitation of the BP chromophore resulted in isomerization of the NBD group to quadricyclane (QC). All of these observations suggest that an intramolecular triplet energy transfer occurs in Gn-NBD molecules. The light-harvesting ability of these molecules increases with generation due to an increase in the number of peripheral chromophores. The energy transfer efficiencies are ca. 0.97, 0.54, 0.45, and 0.37 for generations 1-4, respectively, and the rate constant of the triplet-triplet energy transfer is ca. 10(6)-10(7) s(-1), which decreases inconspicuously with increasing generation. The intramolecular triplet energy transfer is proposed to proceed mainly via a through-space mechanism involving the closest donor (folding back conformation) and acceptor groups.     

Direct observation of the intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer in poly(aryl ether) dendrimers

A series of benzophenone (BP) and naphthalene (NA) labeled poly(aryl ether) dendrimers (BP-Gn-NA), generations 1-4, were synthesized, and their photophysical properties were examined. Flash photolysis demonstrates that the triplet energy in BP-Gn-NA can be transferred from the peripheral BP chromophores to the core NA group with the efficiencies of ca. 0.97, 0.96, 0.88, and 0.54 and with the rate constants of 1.4x10(8), 1.2x10(8), 9.5x10(7), and 1.3x10(7) s-1 at room temperature for generations 1-4, respectively. The transient absorption spectra of BP-Gn-NA show clearly the formation of the triplet NA absorption along with the decay of the triplet BP one with an isosbestic point at 475 nm, which gives direct evidence of the triplet energy transfer from the periphery BP chromphores to the core NA group. The phosphorescence of the NA group attached to the focal point was observed when the periphery BP chromophores were selectively irradiated in BP-G1-NA at 77 K. The triplet energy transfer occurs at 77 K with the efficiencies of 1.0, 0.16, 0.17, and 0.21 for generations 1-4, respectively. The intramolecular triplet energy transfer is proposed to proceed mainly via a through space mechanism.     

Structural induced control of energy transfer within Zn(II)-porphyrin dendrimers

We report on a study of singlet-singlet annihilation kinetics in a series of Zn(II)-porphyrin-appended dendrimers, where the energy transfer efficiency is significantly improved by extending the molecular chain that connects the light-harvesting chromophores to the dendrimeric backbone with one additional carbon. For the largest dendrimer having 64 Zn(II)-porphyrins, only approximately 10% of the excitation intensity is needed in order to observe the same extent of annihilation in the dendrimers with the additional carbon in the connecting chain as compared to those without. Complete annihilation, until only one chromophore remains excited, now occurs within subunits of seven chromophores, when half of the chromophores are excited. The improvement of the annihilation efficiency in the largest dendrimer with 64 porphyrins can be explained by the presence of a the two-step delayed annihilation process, involving energy hopping from excited to nonexcited chromophores prior to annihilation. In the smallest dendrimer with only four chromophores, delayed annihilation is not present, since the direct annihilation process is more efficient than the two-step delayed annihilation process. As the dendrimer size increases and the chances of originally exciting two neighboring chromophores decreases, the delayed annihilation process becomes more visible. The additional carbon, added to the connecting chain, results in more favorable chromophore distances and orientations for energy hopping. Hence, the improved energy transfer properties makes the Zn(II)-porphyrin-appended dendrimers with the additional carbon promising candidates as light-harvesting antennas for artificial photosynthesis.     

Intermolecular coupling in nanometric domains of light-harvesting dendrimer films studied by photoluminescence near-field scanning optical microscopy (PL NSOM)

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) has been used to investigate the photophysical characteristics of first- to fourth-generation (G1 to G4) light-harvesting dendrimer thin films containing coumarin-343 and coumarin-2 as the core and peripheral chromophores, respectively. Thin film photoluminescence (PL) spectra exhibit a significant red shift in the lower generations (G1, G2, and G3) as compared to their respective solution PL spectra, implying the formation of excimers. Spatially resolved PL NSOM images exhibit pronounced nanoscopic domains in G1, which become more homogeneous in higher generations due to site-isolation of the core chromophore. G4 exhibits complete site-isolation for these light-harvesting dendrimer films.     

Zinc(II) phthalocyanine containing Schiff base containing sulfonamide: synthesis,characterization, photophysical,and photochemical properties

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of (E)-4-((5-bromo-2-(λ¹-oxidanyl)benzylidene)amino)-N-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (1), its substituted phthalonitrile derivative (2), and its tetra substituted zinc(II) phthalocyanine complex (3) were performed. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 were characterized by methods such as elemental analyses, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR (except for 3), and MALDI-TOF mass spectra. The photophysical and photochemical properties of this substituted zinc(II) phthalocyanine complex aimed to be used as a photosensitizer were investigated in DMSO solution for determination of their photosensitizing abilities in photocatalytic applications such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). The influence of the substituent as a bioactive compound on the phthalocyanine skeleton on spectroscopic, photophysical, and photochemical properties were also determined and compared with unsubstituted zinc(II) phthalocyanine and some zinc(II) phthalocyanines containing different substituents previously studied. According to photophysical and photochemical investigations, 3 has potential as a photosensitizer for PDT.     

Dendritic phthalocyanines: synthesis,photophysical properties,and aggregation behavior

This mini-account describes our recent effort to exploit dendritic phthalocyanines, focusing on their photophysical properties and aggregation behavior in water and in microheterogeneous media. Two series of dendritic phthalocyanines have been prepared. The ones with terminal ester functionalities are non-aggregated in common organic solvents, exhibiting an intramolecular singlet-singlet energy transfer from the excited aryl-containing dendrons to the phthalocyanine core. The other series contain terminal carboxylate groups of which the aggregation tendency in water decreases as the size of the dendron increases. The lower-generation analogues are susceptible to surfactants, in particular the cationic n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), which are very effective to disrupt the molecular aggregation of phthalocyanines. The interactions have been monitored by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy together with laser light scattering. The photophysical properties of the dendrimer/PEO complexes have also been studied by transient spectroscopy. To cite this article: D.K.P. Ng, C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Supramolecular Tetrad Featuring Covalently Linked Bis(porphyrin)–Phthalocyanine Coordinated to Fullerene: Construction and Photochemical Studies

A multimodular donor–acceptor tetrad featuring a bis(zinc porphyrin)–(zinc phthalocyanine) ((ZnP–ZnP)–ZnPc) triad and bis‐pyridine‐functionalized fullerene was assembled by a “two‐point” binding strategy, and investigated as a charge‐separating photosynthetic antenna‐reaction center mimic. The spectral and computational studies suggested that the mode of binding of the bis‐pyridine‐functionalized fullerene involves either one of the zinc porphyrin and zinc phthalocyanine (Pc) entities of the triad or both zinc porphyrin entities leaving ZnPc unbound. The binding constant evaluated by constructing a Benesi–Hildebrand plot by using the optical data was found to be 1.17×10⁵ M ^?1, whereas a plot of “mole‐ratio” method revealed a 1:1 stoichiometry for the supramolecular tetrad. The mode of binding was further supported by differential pulse voltammetry studies, in which redox modulation of both zinc porphyrin and zinc phthalocyanine entities was observed. The geometry of the tetrad was deduced by B3LYP/6‐31G* optimization, whereas the energy levels for different photochemical events was established by using data from the optical absorption and emission, and electrochemical studies. Excitation of the zinc porphyrin entity of the triad and tetrad revealed ultrafast singlet–singlet energy transfer to the appended zinc phthalocyanine. The estimated rate of energy transfer (k_ENT) in the case of the triad was found to be 7.5×10¹¹ s^?1 in toluene and 6.3×10¹¹ s^?1 in o‐dichlorobenzene, respectively. As was predicted from the energy levels, photoinduced electron transfer from the energy‐transfer product, that is, singlet‐excited zinc phthalocyanine to fullerene was verified from the femtosecond‐transient spectral studies, both in o‐dichlorobenzene and toluene. Transient bands corresponding to ZnPc ^{? +} in the 850 nm range and C₆₀ ^{? ?} in the 1020 nm range were clearly observed. The rate of charge separation, k_CS, and rate of charge recombination, k_CR, for the (ZnP–ZnP)–ZnPc ^{? +}:Py₂C₆₀ ^{? ?} radical ion pair (from the time profile of 849 nm peak) were found to be 2.20×10¹¹ and 6.10×10⁸ s^?1 in toluene, and 6.82×10¹¹ and 1.20×10⁹ s^?1 in o‐dichlorobenzene, respectively. These results revealed efficient energy transfer followed by charge separation in the newly assembled supramolecular tetrad.     

芳醚树枝形聚合物的合成及分子内光敏异构化反应研究

利用收敛法合成了一代到四代外围带有二苯酮、核心带有降冰片二烯的芳醚树枝形聚合物, 初步研究了这些化合物的分子内光敏异构化反应. 以波长大于350 nm的光选择激发外围的二苯酮官能团引起核心处降冰片二烯基团异构化为四环烷, 随着代数的增长, 光敏异构化反应的速率逐渐加快.     

Multistep energy and electron transfer processes in novel rotaxane donor–acceptor hybrids generating microsecond-lived charge separated states

A new set of [Cu(phen)₂]⁺ based rotaxanes, featuring [60]-fullerene as an electron acceptor and a variety of electron donating moieties, namely zinc porphyrin (ZnP), zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and ferrocene (Fc), has been synthesized and fully characterized with respect to electrochemical and photophysical properties. The assembly of the rotaxanes has been achieved using a slight variation of our previously reported synthetic strategy that combines the Cu(i)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction (the “click” or CuAAC reaction) with Sauvage''s metal-template protocol. To underline our results, complementary model rotaxanes and catenanes have been prepared using the same strategy and their electrochemistry and photo-induced processes have been investigated. Insights into excited state interactions have been afforded from steady state and time resolved emission spectroscopy as well as transient absorption spectroscopy. It has been found that photo-excitation of the present rotaxanes triggers a cascade of multi-step energy and electron transfer events that ultimately leads to remarkably long-lived charge separated states featuring one-electron reduced C₆₀ radical anion (C₆₀˙^–) and either one-electron oxidized porphyrin (ZnP˙⁺) or one-electron oxidized ferrocene (Fc˙⁺) with lifetimes up to 61 microseconds. In addition, shorter-lived charge separated states involving one-electron oxidized copper complexes ([Cu(phen)₂]²⁺ (τ < 100 ns)), one-electron oxidized zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc˙⁺; τ = 380–560 ns), or ZnP˙⁺ (τ = 2.3–8.4 μs), and C₆₀˙^– have been identified as intermediates during the sequence. Detailed energy diagrams illustrate the sequence and rate constants of the photophysical events occurring with the mechanically-linked chromophores. This work pioneers the exploration of mechanically-linked systems as platforms to position three distinct chromophores, which are able to absorb light over a very wide range of the visible region, triggering a cascade of short-range energy and electron transfer processes to afford long-lived charge separated states.     

High‐Potential Perfluorinated Phthalocyanine–Fullerene Dyads for Generation of High‐Energy Charge‐Separated States: Formation and Photoinduced Electron‐Transfer Studies

High oxidation potential perfluorinated zinc phthalocyanines (ZnF_nPcs) are synthesised and their spectroscopic, redox, and light‐induced electron‐transfer properties investigated systematically by forming donor–acceptor dyads through metal–ligand axial coordination of fullerene (C₆₀) derivatives. Absorption and fluorescence spectral studies reveal efficient binding of the pyridine‐ (Py) and phenylimidazole‐functionalised fullerene (C₆₀Im) derivatives to the zinc centre of the F_nPcs. The determined binding constants, K, in o‐dichlorobenzene for the 1:1 complexes are in the order of 10⁴ to 10⁵ M ^?1; nearly an order of magnitude higher than that observed for the dyad formed from zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) lacking fluorine substituents. The geometry and electronic structure of the dyads are determined by using the B3LYP/6‐31G* method. The HOMO and LUMO levels are located on the Pc and C₆₀ entities, respectively; this suggests the formation of ZnF_nPc^.+–C₆₀Im^.? and ZnF_nPc^.+–C₆₀Py^.? (n=0, 8 or 16) intra‐supramolecular charge‐separated states during electron transfer. Electrochemical studies on the ZnPc–C₆₀ dyads enable accurate determination of their oxidation and reduction potentials and the energy of the charge‐separated states. The energy of the charge‐separated state for dyads composed of ZnF_nPc is higher than that of normal ZnPc–C₆₀ dyads and reveals their significance in harvesting higher amounts of light energy. Evidence for charge separation in the dyads is secured from femtosecond transient absorption studies in nonpolar toluene. Kinetic evaluation of the cation and anion radical ion peaks reveals ultrafast charge separation and charge recombination in dyads composed of perfluorinated phthalocyanine and fullerene; this implies their significance in solar‐energy harvesting and optoelectronic device building applications.     

Dendron to Central Core S1–S1 and S2–Sn (n>1) Energy Transfers in Artificial Special Pairs Containing Dendrimers with Limited Numbers of Conformations

Two dendrimers consisting of a cofacial free‐base bisporphyrin held by a biphenylene spacer and functionalized with 4‐benzeneoxomethane (5‐(4‐benzene)tri‐10,15,20‐(4‐n‐octylbenzene)zinc(II)porphyrin) using either five or six of the six available meso‐positions, have been synthesized and characterized as models for the antenna effect in Photosystems I and II. The presence of the short linkers, ‐CH₂O‐, and long C₈H₁₇ soluble side chains substantially reduces the number of conformers (foldamers) compared with classic dendrimers built with longer flexible chains. This simplification assists in their spectroscopic and photophysical analysis, notably with respect to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Both steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopic measurements indicate that the cofacial free bases and the flanking zinc(II)–porphyrin antennas act as energy acceptor and donor, respectively, following excitation in either the Q or Soret bands of the dendrimers. The rate constants for singlet electronic energy transfer (k_EET) extracted from the S₁ and S₂ fluorescence lifetimes of the donor in the presence and absence of the acceptor are ≤ (0.1–0.3)×10⁹ and ～2×10⁹ s^?1 for S₁→S₁ (range from a bi‐exponential decay model) and about 1.5×10¹² s^?1 for S₂→S_n (n>1). Comparisons of these experimental data with those calculated from Förster theory using orientation factors and donor–acceptor distances extracted from computer modeling suggest that a highly restricted number of the many foldamers facilitate energy transfer. These foldamers have the lowest energy by molecular modeling and consist of one or at most two of the flanking zinc porphyrin antennas folded so they lie near the central artificial special pair core with the remaining antennas located almost parallel to and far from it.     

Remote Sensitized Photoisomerization via Through‐Bond Triplet–Triplet Energy Transfer Mediated by a Salt Bridge in a Supramolecular Dyad

A supramolecular dyad, BP‐(amidinium‐carboxylate)‐NBD is constructed, in which benzophenone (BP) and norbornadiene (NBD) are connected via an amidinium‐carboxylate salt bridge. The photophysical and photochemical properties of the assembled BP‐(amidinium‐carboxylate)‐NBD dyad are examined. The phosphorescence of the BP chromophore is efficiently quenched by the NBD group in BP‐(amidinium‐carboxylate)‐NBD via the salt bridge. Time‐resolved spectroscopy measurements indicate that the lifetime of the BP triplet state in BP‐(amidinium‐carboxylate)‐NBD is shortened due to the quenching by the NBD group. Selective excitation of the BP chromophore results in isomerization of the NBD group to quadricyclane (QC). All of these observations suggest that the triplet–triplet energy transfer occurs efficiently in the BP‐(amidinium‐carboxylate)‐NBD salt bridge system. The triplet–triplet energy transfer process proceeds with efficiencies of approximately 0.87, 0.98 and the rate constants 1.8×10³ s^?1, and 1.3×10⁷ s^?1 at 77 K and room temperature, respectively. The mechanism for the triplet–triplet energy transfer is proposed to proceed via a “through‐bond” electron exchange process, and the non‐covalent bonds amidinium‐carboxylate salt bridge can mediate the triplet–triplet energy transfer process effectively for photochemical conversion.     

Dendrimers as Nd3+ ligands: Effect of Generation on the Efficiency of the Sensitized Lanthanide Emission

We have designed two novel dendrimers with cyclam cores with appended poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrons, decorated at the periphery with four and eight dansyl chromophores, respectively. The photophysical properties of the dendrimers and their Nd³⁺ complexes have been investigated. The energy‐transfer efficiency to the lanthanide ions from these dendrimers has been studied as a function of the generation. It has been observed that an increase in the dendrimer generation as well as the number of amide units enhances the energy transfer to the lanthanide ion.     

Photophysical Analysis of 1,10‐Phenanthroline‐Embedded Porphyrin Analogues and Their Magnesium(II) Complexes

The synthesis, characterization, photophysical properties, and theoretical analysis of a series of tetraaza porphyrin analogues ( H? Pn : n=1–4) containing a dipyrrin subunit and an embedded 1,10‐phenanthroline subunit are described. The meso‐phenyl‐substituted derivative ( H? P1 ) interacts with a Mg²⁺ salt (e.g., MgCl₂, MgBr₂, MgI₂, Mg(ClO₄)₂, and Mg(OAc)₂) in MeCN solution, thereby giving rise to a cation‐dependent red‐shift in both the absorbance‐ and emission maxima. In this system, as well as in the other H? Pn porphyrin analogues used in this study, the four nitrogen atoms of the ligand interact with the bound magnesium cation to form Mg²⁺–dipyrrin–phenanthroline complexes of the general structure MgX? Pn (X=counteranion). Both single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis of the corresponding zinc‐chloride derivative ( ZnCl? P1 ) and fluorescence spectroscopy of the Mg‐adducts that are formed from various metal salts provide support for the conclusion that, in complexes such as MgCl? P1 , a distorted square‐pyramidal geometry persists about the metal cation wherein a chloride anion acts as an axial counteranion. Several analogues ( H? Pn ) that contain electron‐donating and/or electron‐withdrawing dipyrrin moieties were prepared in an effort to understand the structure–property relationships and the photophysical attributes of these Mg–dipyrrin complexes. Analysis of various MgX? Pn (X=anion) systems revealed significant substitution effects on their chemical, electrochemical, and photophysical properties, as well as on the Mg²⁺‐cation affinities. The fluorescence properties of MgCl? Pn reflected the effect of donor‐excited photoinduced electron transfer (d‐PET) processes from the dipyrrin subunit (as a donor site) to the 1,10‐phenanthroline acceptor subunit. The proposed d‐PET process was analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and by femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy, as well as by theoretical DFT calculations. Taken together, these studies provide support for the suggestion that a radical species is produced as the result of an intramolecular charge‐transfer process, following photoexcitation. These photophysical effects, combined with a mixed dipyrrin–phenanthroline structure that is capable of effective Mg²⁺‐cation complexation, lead us to suggest that porphyrin‐inspired systems, such as H? Pn , have a role to play as magnesium‐cation sensors.     

Energy transfer from C-phycocyanin to phthalocyanine metal complex in reverse micelles

A new mimic system of photosynthetic apparatus was constructed from C-phycocyanin and phthalocyanine zinc. C-PC was solubilized in the reverse micelles of non ionic surfactant Tween-80, cosurfactant pentanol, and solvent cyclohexane, in which the overall concentration of surfactant was 20% (w/v) and the mass ratio of Tween-80 to pentanol was 4:1. When the molar ratio of water to Tween-80 (R_w)≥9.0, the characteristic properties of C-PC were maintained. When it was excited, the energy transfer from C-PC to phthalocyanine zinc took place. The energy transfer efficiency was only related with the concentration of phthalocyanine, but not that of C-PC. Furthermore, the energy transfer was roughly in keeping with Perrin formulation, which indicated that the energy transfer took place approximately through dipole-dipole interaction in rigid system. The radii of the quenching sphere were calculated from the experimental results. For example, when the concentration of phthalocyanine zinc was 2.10 × 10~(-4) mol/     

Designing systems for a multiple use of light signals.

The photochemical and photophysical behavior of two dendrimers consisting of a benzophenone core and branches that contain dimethoxybenzene units has been investigated. Such dendrimers can undergo a variety of photochemical and photophysical processes, namely: 1) quenching of the fluorescence and phosphorescence of the dimethoxybenzene units by energy transfer to the benzophenone core (antenna effect), 2) direct and sensitized phosphorescence (and delayed fluorescence) of the benzophenone core, 3) hydrogen abstraction by the triplet excited state of the benzophenone core from solvent molecules, 4) intramolecular hydrogen abstraction by the triplet excited state of the benzophenone core from the dendrimer branches, 5) quenching of the phosphorescence and hydrogen abstraction reaction of the benzophenone core by energy transfer to terbium ions and dioxygen; 6) conversion of the UV light absorbed by the dendrimer branches into visible (Tb3+) or near infrared (O2) emission via the sequence of processes 1) and 5). The results obtained emphasize the great potential of suitably designed dendrimers for a multiple use of light signals.     

羧脒盐桥介导的萘-二苯酮单重态能量传递研究

设计构建了以羧脒盐桥联接的二苯酮和萘超分子体系, NA-(脒基-羧基)-BP和NA-(羧基-脒基)-BP, 以及相应的模型体系. 稳态和时间分辨荧光光谱研究表明, 置于羧脒盐桥两端的萘和二苯酮基团之间可以发生有效的单重态能量传递, 超分子体系NA-(脒-羧)-BP (NA-Am/BP-COOH＝1/1)和NA-(羧-脒)-BP (NA-COOH/BP-Am＝1/1)中单重态能量传递效率分别为0.998和0.970, 速率常数分别为6.8×1010和1.5×1010 s－1. 推断羧脒盐桥介导了超分子体系中单重态能量传递过程并具备方向性性质, 单重态能量传递“通过键”以电子交换机制进行.     

Porphyrin–Phthalocyanine/Pyridylfullerene Supramolecular Assemblies

The synthesis and photophysical properties of several porphyrin (P)–phthalocyanine (Pc) conjugates (P–Pc; 1 – 3 ) are described, in which the phthalocyanines are directly linked to the β‐pyrrolic position of a meso‐tetraphenylporphyrin. Photoinduced energy‐ and electron‐transfer processes were studied through the preparation of H₂P–ZnPc, ZnP–ZnPc, and PdP–ZnPc conjugates, and their assembly through metal coordination with two different pyridylfulleropyrrolidines ( 4 and 5 ). The resulting electron‐donor–acceptor hybrids, which were formed by axial coordination of compounds 4 and 5 with the corresponding phthalocyanines, mimicked the fundamental processes of photosynthesis; that is, light harvesting, the transduction of excited‐state energy, and unidirectional electron transfer. In particular, photophysical studies confirmed that intramolecular energy‐transfer resulted from the S₂ excited state as well as from the S₁ excited state of the porphyrins to the energetically lower‐lying phthalocyanines, followed by an intramolecular charge‐transfer to yield P–Pc^.+ ? C₆₀^.?. This unique sequence of processes opens the way for solar‐energy‐conversion processes.     

Synthesis of poly(p‐phenylene) macromonomers and multiblock copolymers

Rigid‐rod poly(4′‐methyl‐2,5‐benzophenone) macromonomers were synthesized by Ni(0) catalytic coupling of 2,5‐dichloro‐4′‐methylbenzophenone and end‐capping agent 4‐chloro‐4′‐fluorobenzophenone. The macromonomers produced were labile to nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The molecular weight of poly(4′‐methyl‐2,5‐benzophenone) was controlled by varying the amount of the end‐capping agent in the reaction mixture. Glass‐transition temperatures of the macromonomers increased with increasing molecular weight and ranged from 117 to 213 °C. Substitution of the macromonomer end groups was determined to be nearly quantitative by ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography. The polymerization of a poly(4′‐methyl‐2,5‐benzophenone) macromonomer [number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 1.90 × 10³ g/mol; polydispersity (M_w)/M_n = 2.04] with hydroxy end‐capped bisphenol A polyaryletherketone (M_n = 4.50 × 10³ g/mol; M_w/M_n = 1.92) afforded an alternating multiblock copolymer (M_n = 1.95 × 10⁴ g/mol; M_w/M_n = 6.02) that formed flexible, transparent films that could be creased without cracking. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3505–3512, 2001