Synthesis and Characterization of Donor–π‐Acceptor‐Based Porphyrin Sensitizers: Potential Application of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

New porphyrin sensitizers based on donor–π‐acceptor (D‐π‐A) approach have been designed, synthesized, characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and their photovoltaic properties explored. N,N′‐Diphenylamine acts as donor, the porphyrin is the π‐spacer, and either carboxylic acid or cyanoacryclic acid acts as acceptor. All compounds were characterized by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, UV–visible emission spectroscopies as well as electrochemical methods. The presence of aromatic groups between porphyrin π‐plane and acceptor group push the absorption of both Soret and Q‐bands of porphyrin towards the red region. The electrochemical properties suggests that LUMO of these sensitizers above the TiO₂ conduction band. Finally, the device was fabricated using liquid redox electrolyte (I^?/I₃^?) and its efficiency was compared with that of a leading sensitizer.     

Nitrous‐Acid‐Mediated Synthesis of Iron–Nitrosyl–Porphyrin: pH‐Dependent Release of Nitric Oxide

Two iron–nitrosyl–porphyrins, nitrosyl[meso‐tetrakis(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenylporphyrin]iron(II) acetic acid solvate ( 3 ) and nitrosyl[meso‐tetrakis(4‐methoxyphenylporphyrin]iron(II) CH₂Cl₂ solvate ( 4 ), were synthesized in quantitative yield by using a modified procedure with nitrous acid, followed by oxygen‐atom abstraction by triphenylphosphine under an argon atmosphere. These nitrosyl porphyrins are in the {FeNO}⁷ class. Under an argon atmosphere, these compounds are relatively stable over a broad range of pH values (4–8) but, under aerobic conditions, they release nitric oxide faster at high pH values than that at low pH values. The generated nitric‐oxide‐free iron(III)–porphyrin can be re‐nitrosylated by using nitrous acid and triphenylphosphine. The rapid release of NO from these Fe^II complexes at high pH values seems to be similar to that in nitrophorin, a nitric‐oxide‐transport protein, which formally possesses Fe^III. However, because the release of NO occurs from ferrous–nitrosyl–porphyrin under aerobic conditions, these compounds are more closely related to nitrobindin, a recently discovered heme protein.     

Hydrogen‐bonded assemblies of 20‐(4‐pyridyl)porphyrin‐54,104,154‐tribenzoic acid with dimethyl sulfoxide and 4‐acetylpyridine in their dimethyl sulfoxide and tetrahydrofuran solvates

Crystals of the title compounds, 20‐(4‐pyridyl)porphyrin‐5⁴,10⁴,15⁴‐tribenzoic acid–dimethyl sulfoxide (2/5), C₄₆H₂₉N₅O₆·2.5C₂H₆OS, (I), and 20‐(4‐pyridyl)porphyrin‐5⁴,10⁴,15⁴‐tribenzoic acid–4‐acetylpyridine–tetrahydrofuran (1/2/10), C₄₆H₂₉N₅O₆·2C₇H₇NO·10C₄H₈O, (II), consist of hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular chains of porphyrin units solvated by molecules of dimethyl sulfoxide [in (I)] and 4‐acetylpyridine [in (II)]. In (I), these chains consist of heterogeneous arrays with alternating porphyrin and dimethyl sulfoxide species, being sustained by COOH...O=S hydrogen bonds. They adopt a zigzag geometry and link on both sides to additional molecules of dimethyl sulfoxide. In (II), the chains consist of homogeneous linear supramolecular arrays of porphyrin units, which are directly connected to one another via COOH...N(pyridyl) hydrogen bonds. As in the previous case, these arrays are solvated on both sides by molecules of the 4‐acetylpyridine ligand via similar COOH(porphyrin)...N(ligand) hydrogen bonds. The two crystal structures contain wide interporphyrin voids, which accommodate disordered/diffused solvent molecules, viz. dimethyl sulfoxide in (I) and tetrahydrofuran in (II).     

Directly Diphenylborane‐Fused Porphyrins

Mono‐ and bis(diphenylborane)‐fused porphyrins were synthesized from the corresponding β‐(2‐trimethylsilylphenyl)‐substituted porphyrins through the sequence of Si–B exchange reaction, intramolecular bora‐Friedel–Crafts reaction, and ring‐closing Si–B exchange reaction. Effective electronic interactions of the empty p‐orbital of the boron atom with the porphyrin π‐circuit lead to red‐shifted absorption spectra and substantially decreased LUMO energy levels. Pyridine adds at the boron center to cause disruption of the electronic interaction of the boron atom with large association constants (1.9–17×10⁴ m ^?1) depending on the central metal at the porphyrin. The Zn^II complex behaved as a hetero‐dinuclear Lewis acid, exhibiting regioselective binding of pyridines at the boron or the zinc center.     

β to β Terpyridylene-bridged porphyrin nanorings

β β to Terpyridine bridged cyclic porphyrin dimer, trimer, tetramer and pentamer were obtained through one-pot Suzuki-Miyaura crossing coupling reaction in good yields with template free. These porphyrin nanorings possess high fluorescence quantum yields and large extinction coefficients.     

Photofunctionality in Porphyrin‐Hybridized Bis(dipyrrinato)zinc(II) Complex Micro‐ and Nanosheets

New bis(dipyrrinato)zinc(II) complex micro‐ and nanosheets containing zinc(II) porphyrin ( N2 ) are synthesized. A liquid/liquid interface method between dipyrrin porphyrin ligand L2 and zinc acetate produces N2 with a large domain size. N2 can be layered quantitatively onto a flat substrate by a modified Langmuir–Schäfer method. N2 deposited on a SnO₂ electrode functions as a photoanode for a photoelectric conversion system. The photoresponse of N2 covers the whole visible wavelength range (400–650 nm), with a maximum quantum efficiency of more than twice that of a bis(dipyrrinato)zinc(II) complex nanosheet without porphyrin.     

Synthesis of Novel Symmetric Porphyrin Schiff Base Dimers by Solid–Liquid Reaction Methodology

A new convenient solid–liquid condensation reaction procedure for the synthesis of novel asymmetric and symmetric meso‐tetraarylporphyrin and metalloporphyrin Schiff bases is reported. The condensation reaction between β‐formyl porphyrin or metalloporphyrins and aromatic amines was carried out at solid–liquid interface by using neutral alumina powder as a solid support for β‐formyl porphyrin or metalloporphyrins and absolute ethanol as the carrier solvent for aromatic amines. Six different asymmetric porphyrin/metalloporphyrin Schiff bases were synthesized via solid–liquid interface reaction methodology. The same solid–liquid synthetic methodology was applied for the synthesis of six novel symmetric Schiff base porphyrin/metalloporphyrin dimers. The comparison of UV–visible spectra of porphyrin Schiff base monomers and dimers revealed that some degree of electronic perturbation has occurred upon dimerization as the Soret bands of the monomers underwent peak broadening along with red shifts. Column chromatography and crystallization were used to purify the compounds. Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible, elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, and mass spectrometry were used to characterize the newly synthesized compounds.     

A flexible porphyrin-annulene hybrid: a nonporphyrin conformation for meso-tetraaryldivacataporphyrin

An annulene–porphyrin hybrid, the diaaza‐deficient porphyrin 5,10,15,20‐tetraaryl‐21,23‐divacataporphyrin, has been synthesized by an extrusion of tellurium atom(s) from 5,10,15,20‐tetraaryl‐21,23‐ditelluraporphyrin under treatment with HCl. In addition, a monoaza‐deficient 5,10,15,20‐tetraaryl‐21‐tellura‐23‐vacataporphyrin was formed in the same reaction. The two new members of the vacataporphyrin family were characterized by X‐ray crystallography, as well as UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy. These aromatic molecules preserve the fundamental structural and spectroscopic features of the parent tetraarylporphyrin. The X‐ray crystal structures of 21,23‐divacataporphyrin and 21‐tellura‐23‐vacataporphyrin show typical porphyrin patterns. The molecules are not strictly planar and show distortion of the annulene moieties. The N22???N24 distances (5.23 and 5.09 Å) are considerably longer than in regular porphyrins. For 21,23‐divacataporphyrin, variable‐temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy data allowed the identification of divacataporphyrin stereoisomers differentiated by the geometry of the butadiene bridges. The forms remain in thermodynamic equilibrium.     

Synthesis,Spectral, and Coordination Properties of Halogen-Substituted Tetraarylporphyrins

2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-Ocatbromo-5,10,15,20-tetra-(4-chloroprienyl)porphyrin and 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octachloro-5,10,15,20-tetra-(4-bromophenyl)porphyrin have been synthesized. The obtained compounds have been identified by electronic absorption and ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. The complex-forming properties of the synthesized porphyrins in the zinc acetate (II)-acetonitrile system at 278–298 K have been studied. Kinetic parameters of the formation of the corresponding zinc complexes in acetonitrile have been determined.

     

Synthesis and different substituent effects on spectral and electrochemical properties of porphyrin nicotinic acid binary compounds

The porphyrin nicotinic acid binary compounds with different substituents in porphine rings (5-(4-nicotinicoxyldecyloxy)phenyl-10,15,20-triphenylporhyrin 2a, 5-(4-nicotinicoxyldecyloxy)phenyl-10,15,20-tri(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin 2b and 5-(4-nicotinicoxyldecyloxy)phenyl-10,15,20-tri(4-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin 2c) were synthesized. All of them have been characterized, assigned and analyzed by UV–vis, IR, MS and ¹H NMR spectra. Their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties were studied by using cyclic voltammetry, fluorescence spectra and Resonance Raman spectra. Different substituents have a little influence on electrochemical behavior and fluorescence spectra. In the Resonance Raman spectra, the substituent has little influence on the skeleton vibration of porphyrin and has much influence on the vibration of phenyl.     

13C NMR spectroscopic evidence for the existence of the monocation of pyropheophytin a

Pyropheophytin a, which is an unsymmetric porphyrin, has been titrated with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in tetrahydrofuran, the protonation reaction being followed by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. TFA was added in small increments to a 0.28 M solution of pyropheophytin a in tetrahydrofuran, and the chemical shift changes of the macrocyclic carbons were determined as a function of the TFA increments. On the addition of TFA the signals of the α-carbons of ring II experienced a large upfield change, whereas the signals of all other macrocyclic carbons moved only slightly downfield or remained constant. These observations were interpreted as indicating the formation of a monocation in which the proton is attached to the nitrogen of ring II. The ¹³C protonation shifts of pyropheophytin a were compared with those previously reported for symmetric porphyrins. On the basis of this comparison, the basicity of the macrocyclic nitrogen atoms, the N–H tautomerism and the electron delocalization in structurally different porphyrin macrocycles are discussed.     

Synthesis,structure, photophysical properties and biological activity of a cobalt(II) coordination complex with 4,4′-bipyridine and porphyrin chelating ligands

A new bioactive material of cobalt(II) with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4 (benzoyloxy)phenyl] porphyrin (TPBP) and bpy ligands ([Co^II(TPBP)(bpy)₂] 1) has been synthesized and characterized by Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), spectroscopic methods and quantum-chemistry calculations. In the crystalline structures of six coordinated Co(II) [Co^II(TPBP)(bpy)₂] 1, linear 1D polymeric chains were observed in which all the porphyrin units are aligned parallel to each other. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter-and intramolecular C–H⋯O and C–H⋯N hydrogen bonds, and by weak C–H⋯Cg π interactions. Interestingly, NBO–Second-order perturbation theory analysis, carried out at the UB3LYP/6-31G(d)/SDD DFT level of theory, demonstrated that a two-center bond between the nitrogen atoms and the cobalt ions (Co) was not found, the Co–N_py/bp interactions are coming from an electronic delocalization between the N_py/N_bp filled orbitals to the anti-bonding LP*(4) and LP*(5) metal NBOs. Mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis were also investigated to confirm the molecular structure. The downfield shift and the peak broadening of the axial ligand resonances observed in the ¹H NMR indicated the contiguity to the paramagnetic Co(II) center. Additionally, the photophysical properties have been evaluated by UV–visible absorption, and fluorescence emission spectroscopies. Finally, bioactivity investigations revealed that free porphyrin TPBP, Co^IITPBP and complex 1 could be used as potential antioxidant agents.     

Amino Acid–Porphyrin Conjugates: Synthesis and Study of their Photophysical and Metal Ion Recognition Properties

Synthesis, photophysical and metal ion recognition properties of a series of amino acid‐linked free‐base and Zn‐porphyrin derivatives (5–9) are reported. These porphyrin derivatives showed favorable photophysical properties including high molar extinction coefficients (>1 × 10⁵ m ^?1 cm^?1 for the Soret band), quantum yields of triplet excited states (63–94%) and singlet oxygen generation efficiencies (59–91%). Particularly, the Zn‐porphyrin derivatives, 6 and 9 showed higher molar extinction coefficients, decreased fluorescence quantum yields, and higher triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields compared to the corresponding free‐base porphyrin derivatives. Further, the study of their interactions with various metal ions indicated that the proline‐conjugated Zn‐porphyrins (6 and 9) showed high selectivity toward Cu²⁺ ions and signaled the recognition through changes in fluorescence intensity. Our results provide insights on the role of nature of amino acid and metallation in the design of the porphyrin systems for application as probes and sensitizers.     

New insight into the electronic structure of iron(IV)‐oxo porphyrin compound I. A quantum chemical topological analysis

The electronic structure of iron‐oxo porphyrin π‐cation radical complex Por^·+Fe^IV?O (S? H) has been studied for doublet and quartet electronic states by means of two methods of the quantum chemical topology analysis: electron localization function (ELF) η(r) and electron density ρ(r). The formation of this complex leads to essential perturbation of the topological structure of the carbon–carbon bonds in porphyrin moiety. The double C?C bonds in the pyrrole anion subunits, represented by pair of bonding disynaptic basins V_i=1,2(C,C) in isolated porphyrin, are replaced by single attractor V(C,C)_i=1–20 after complexation with the Fe cation. The iron–nitrogen bonds are covalent dative bonds, N→Fe, described by the disynaptic bonding basins V(Fe,N)_i=1–4, where electron density is almost formed by the lone pairs of the N atoms. The nature of the iron–oxygen bond predicted by the ELF topological analysis, shows a main contribution of the electrostatic interaction, Fe^δ+···O^δ?, as long as no attractors between the C(Fe) and C(O) core basins were found, although there are common surfaces between the iron and oxygen basines and coupling between iron and oxygen lone pairs, that could be interpreted as a charge‐shift bond. The Fe? S bond, characterized by the disynaptic bonding basin V(Fe,S), is partially a dative bond with the lone pair donated from sulfur atom. The change of electronic state from the doublet (M = 2) to quartet (M = 4) leads to reorganization of spin polarization, which is observed only for the porphyrin skeleton (?0.43e to 0.50e) and S? H bond (?0.55e to 0.52e). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Porphyrins Fused to N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs): Modulation of the Electronic and Catalytic Properties of NHCs by the Central Metal of the Porphyrin

We report herein a detailed study of the use of porphyrins fused to imidazolium salts as precursors of N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands 1 M . Rhodium(I) complexes 6 M – 9 M were prepared by using 1 M ligands with different metal cations in the inner core of the porphyrin (M=Ni^II, Zn^II, Mn^III, Al^III, 2H). The electronic properties of the corresponding N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were investigated by monitoring the spectroscopic changes occurring in the cod and CO ancillary ligands of [( 1 M )Rh(cod)Cl] and [( 1 M )Rh(CO)₂Cl] complexes (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene). Porphyrin–NHC ligands 1 M with a trivalent metal cation such as Mn^III and Al^III are overall poorer electron donors than porphyrin–NHC ligands with no metal cation or incorporating a divalent metal cation such as Ni^II and Zn^II. Imidazolium salts 3 M (M=Ni, Zn, Mn, 2H) have also been used as NHC precursors to catalyze the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide. The results clearly show that the inner metal of the porphyrin has an important effect on the reactivity of the outer carbene.     

Non-covalent assemblies of negatively charged boronated porphyrins with different cationic moieties

A unique approach to non-covalent electron and energy transfer is described that is based on the formation of salt bridges between oppositely charged porphyrin units. A new class of electrostatically linked dimeric and pentameric porphyrins was synthesized by interaction of novel anionic boron containing porphyrins such as 5-(benzamidodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (N1) and meso-tetrakis-benzamidodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate)porphyrin (N2) and a variety of cationic meso-tetraarylporphyrin units. A bipyridine linked dimer (N1 · bpy · N1) was also prepared by employing N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (bpy) as a spacer between two mono-anionic species. A quinone-porphyrin dyad was also prepared for electron or energy transfer demonstration. All the synthesized assemblies were characterized by NMR, IR, UV-Vis, and mass spectroscopy. Significant spectral changes occurred in the absorption spectra of these non-covalent porphyrin assemblies compared to those of the reference monomers, indicating the presence of electronic interaction between the adjacent porphyrin units. Resonance light scattering was also used to study the formation of these assemblies in solution.     

Ultrafast Photoinduced Energy and Electron Transfer in Multi‐Modular Donor–Acceptor Conjugates

New multi‐modular donor–acceptor conjugates featuring zinc porphyrin (ZnP), catechol‐chelated boron dipyrrin (BDP), triphenylamine (TPA) and fullerene (C₆₀), or naphthalenediimide (NDI) have been newly designed and synthesized as photosynthetic antenna and reaction‐center mimics. The X‐ray structure of triphenylamine‐BDP is also reported. The wide‐band capturing polyad revealed ultrafast energy‐transfer (k_ENT=1.0×10¹² s^?1) from the singlet excited BDP to the covalently linked ZnP owing to close proximity and favorable orientation of the entities. Introducing either fullerene or naphthalenediimide electron acceptors to the TPA‐BDP‐ZnP triad through metal–ligand axial coordination resulted in electron donor–acceptor polyads whose structures were revealed by spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational studies. Excitation of the electron donor, zinc porphyrin resulted in rapid electron‐transfer to coordinated fullerene or naphthalenediimide yielding charge separated ion‐pair species. The measured electron transfer rate constants from femtosecond transient spectral technique in non‐polar toluene were in the range of 5.0×10⁹–3.5×10¹⁰ s^?1. Stabilization of the charge‐separated state in these multi‐modular donor–acceptor polyads is also observed to certain level.     

Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Water-Soluble Cobalt (II), Copper (II) and Iron (III) meso-Tetrakis(carboxyl)porphyrin

Three water-soluble carboxyl metalloporphyrins, cobalt (II), copper (II) and iron (III) meso-tetrakis (carboxyl) porphyrin were prepared and applied as homogeneous electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid and water as proton sources. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results revealed the HER underwent different routes for these metalloporphyrins. Electrocatalysis tests in buffer solution of pH=7.0 showed the TOFs of cobalt (II), copper (II) and iron (III) meso-tetrakis (carboxyl) porphyrin were 184.78, 160.28 and 184.87 mol⁻¹ ⋅ h⁻¹ and the faradaic efficiency were 94.37 %, 93.01 % and 96.98 % at an overpotential of 788 mV, respectively. These results indicate the synthesized metal carboxyl porphyrins have good electrocatalytic activity for HER.     

Syntheses of Amino Group‐Substituted N‐Confused Porphyrins

Tetraphenyl N‐confused porphyrins (NCTPP) bearing amino substituents were synthesized for the purpose of functionalization toward water‐soluble and biocompatible molecules. The Pd‐catalyzed coupling reaction of 4‐ethynylaniline with the 2‐bromo NCTPP Ag(III) complex yields Pd(II) and Ag(III) coupling products ( 4a and 4b ), at 39% and 55%, respectively. The identities of these products were confirmed by the differences in the isotope patterns of their molecular ion peaks as well as other spectroscopic data. The Ag(III) coupling product, 4b , was demetallated to form the final product, 5 , with a yield of 85%. The meso‐tetrakis(4‐nitrophenyl) N‐confused porphyrin, 6 , was synthesized through a methanesulfonic acid catalyzed condensation of pyrrole with the 4‐nitrobenzaldehyde with a yield of 6.8%. Reduction of the compound to meso tetrakis(4‐aminophenyl) N‐confused porphyrin, 7 , was achieved with a yield of 90%.     

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.