Photoinduced electron transfer dynamics in porphyrin donor dyads

Intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) processes occurring in dyads with a free base porphyrin-tetraazaanthracene donor (P) and either a tetracyanonaphthoquinidodimethane (TCQ) or benzoquinone (BQ) acceptor linked by a rigid six σ-bond polynorbornane bridge ([6]) have been investigated. For P[6]BQ, PET in the polar solvent benzonitrile (_s = 25.9) occurs with a rate constant (k_PET) of 1.6 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ but is not evident in solvents less polar than tetrahydrofuran (_s = 7.52). For P[6]TCQ, highly efficient forward PET occurs in both polar and non-polar solvents (k_PET > 2 × 10¹⁰ s⁻¹). For P[6]TCQ the lifetime of the resulting charge-separated state decreases markedly with increasing solvent polarity. The results are discussed in the context of the likely mechanisms for electronic coupling and current theories for PET processes in such linked molecular systems.     

Effects of metal ions on photoinduced electron transfer in zinc porphyrin-naphthalenediimide linked systems

Zinc porphyrin-naphthalenediimide (ZnP-NIm) dyads and zinc porphyrin-pyromellitdiimide-naphthalenediimide (ZnP-Im-NIm) triad have been employed to examine the effects of metal ions on photoinduced charge-separation (CS) and charge-recombination (CR) processes in the presence of metal ions (scandium triflate (Sc(OTf)(3)) or lutetium triflate (Lu(OTf)(3)), both of which can bind with the radical anion of NIm). Formation of the charge-separated states in the absence and in the presence of Sc(3+) was confirmed by the appearance of absorption bands due to ZnP(.) (+) and NIm(.) (-) in the absence of metal ions and of those due to ZnP(.) (+) and the NIm(.) (-)/Sc(3+) complex in the presence of Sc(3+) in the time-resolved transient absorption spectra of dyads and triad. The lifetimes of the charge-separated states in the presence of 1.0 x 10(-3) M Sc(3+) (14 micros for ZnP-NIm, 8.3 micros for ZnP-Im-NIm) are more than ten times longer than those in the absence of metal ions (1.3 micros for ZnP-NIm, 0.33 micros for ZnP-Im-NIm). In contrast, the rate constants of the CS step determined by the fluorescence lifetime measurements are the same, irrespective of the presence or absence of metal ions. This indicates that photoinduced electron transfer from (1)ZnP(*) to NIm in the presence of Sc(3+) occurs without involvement of the metal ion to produce ZnP(.) (+)-NIm(.) (-), followed by complexation with Sc(3+) to afford the ZnP(.) (+)-NIm(.) (-)/Sc(3+) complex. The one-electron reduction potential (E(red)) of the NIm moiety in the presence of a metal ion is shifted in a positive direction with increasing metal ion concentration, obeying the Nernst equation, whereas the one-electron oxidation potential of the ZnP moiety remains the same. The driving force dependence of the observed rate constants (k(ET)) of CS and CR processes in the absence and in the presence of metal ions is well evaluated in terms of the Marcus theory of electron transfer. In the presence of metal ions, the driving force of the CS process is the same as that in the absence of metal ions, whereas the driving force of the CR process decreases with increasing metal ion concentration. The reorganization energy of the CR process also decreases with increasing metal ion concentration, when the CR rate constant becomes independent of the metal ion concentration.     

Testing electron transfer within molecular associates built around anionic C60 and C70 dendrofullerenes and a cationic zinc porphyrin

Mono- and bis-functionalized C(60) and C(70) fullerene derivatives (DF, 1-10) that carry one or two oligoanionic dendritic termini in their malonate addends and an oligocationic octapyridinium zinc porphyrin salt (ZnP) were found to self-assemble in buffered aqueous solution to yield a novel series of 1:1 and/or 1:2 electron transfer hybrid associates. Remarkably high association constants-typically on the order of 10(8) M(-1)-were derived that corroborate stable complex formations. A combination of electrostatic and charge-transfer interactions that are operative between the electron-accepting DF and the electron-donating ZnP is considered to contribute to the uniquely high complex stability. First insight into intracomplex excited state interactions came from steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence quenching experiments that were performed with the molecular ZnP/DF hybrid associates. Excited state quenching processes are, for example, evident in form of a bi-exponential fluorescence decay of ZnP-corresponding to a distribution of associated and non-associated ZnP. Unambiguous evidence for an intracomplex electron transfer quenching, namely, formation of ZnP(.+)/C(60) (.-) and ZnP(.+)/C(70) (.-) radical ion pairs, was gathered in time-resolved transient absorption measurements. Lifetimes of these radical ion-pairs range from nanoseconds to a few microseconds.     

Photoinduced electron transfer between the interlocked components of porphyrin catenanes: effect of the presence of nonequivalent reduction sites on the charge recombination rate

[2]Catenanes made up of several polyether-strapped porphyrin macrocycles interlinked with the cyclic electron acceptor cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) were spectroscopically, photophysically, and electrochemically characterized. The catenanes exhibit very rich redox behavior due to the presence of several different and interacting electro-active subunits. The redox patterns represent useful "fingerprints" that provide detailed information on the electronic interactions and the chemical environments that the electroactive subunits experience in the supramolecular arrays. A photoinduced electron transfer from the porphyrin excited state (charge separation CS) occurs with tau=20 ps in the catenanes with a larger strap and faster than 20 ps (instrumental resolution) in the catenanes with a shorter strap. The resulting charge-separated state recombines to the ground state (charge recombination CR) with lifetimes similar in all cases, 41+/-4 ps. Comparison of the electron transfer rates CS and CR in the host-guest complexes of the same porphyrins with the noncyclic electron acceptor paraquat, indicate slower reactions in the [2]catenanes. This behavior is assigned to the different separation between reacting partners determined by the type of bond (weak interaction or mechanical) and to a two-step consecutive electron transfer to different sites of the macrocyclic electron acceptor in the catenanes which retards charge recombination.     

Dynamic chemical devices: photoinduced electron transfer and its ion-triggered switching in nanomechanical butterfly-type bis(porphyrin)terpyridines

A series of butterfly-type molecular constructs has been prepared in good yield by using a double Stille coupling synthetic protocol. They are composed of a terpyridine (terpy) scaffold and two wings composed of appended porphyrins that are capable of switching from an extended W geometry to a compact U geometry upon cation coordination of the terpy unit. The porphyrin moieties exist in the constructs either as free bases or they can be sequentially metallated, thus giving rise to wings of different "colours". Stationary and time-resolved emission studies of the HZn, ZnAu and Zn2Au constructs show that the electronic properties are strongly dependent on the geometry. In the extended W conformation an energy-transfer process is seen from the free base to the Zn-metallated porphyrin. In the U conformation in Zn2Au the donor luminescence resulting from the singlet excited state of the Zn wing is strongly, quenched not only due to the heavy atom effect but also due to a fast electron-transfer process to the ground state of the Au wing. Furthermore, the binding of (alpha,omega)-diamine substrates to the Zn(II)-porphyrin sites can also influence the conformation of the system. For the Zn2Zn construct, single-crystal diffraction experiments with synchrotron radiation allowed the structure to be solved by direct methods and fully refined; it shows the expected U conformation. The central Zn atom is six-coordinate, whereby the zinc atom is coordinated by the eta3-terpy ligand as well by monodentate and semi-chelating acetate anions. The structure is made rigid by hydrogen bonds involving the aqua ligands on the outer Zn centres and acetate oxygen atoms. The present system thus represents a double-trigger-modulated optomechanical switching device with selective substrate binding for either metal atoms or tailored ligands. Both energy- and electron-transfer processes can be controlled opening a means of improving the on/off ratio in future constructs.     

Synthesis of directly linked zinc(II) porphyrin-imide dyads and energy gap dependence of intramolecular electron transfer reactions

A series of zinc(II) porphyrin-imide dyads (ZP-Im), in which an electron donating ZP moiety is directly connected to an electron accepting imide moiety in the meso position, have been prepared for the examination of energy gap dependence of intramolecular electron transfer reactions with large electronic coupling. The nearly perpendicular conformation of the imide moiety towards the porphyrin plane has been revealed by Xray crystal structures. The energy gap for charge separation, 1ZP* - Im --> ZP+ - Im-, is varied by changing the electron accepting imide moiety to cover a range of about 0.8 eV in DMF. Definitive evidence for electron transfer has been obtained in three solvents (toluene, THF, and DMF) through picosecond-femtosecond transient absorption studies, which have allowed us to determine the rates of photoinduced charge separation, 1ZP* - Im --> ZP+ - Im-, and subsequent thermal charge recombination ZP+ - Im- --> ZP - Im. The free-energy gap dependence (energy gap law) has been probed from the normal to the nearly top region for the charge separation rate alone, and only the inverted region for the charge recombination rate. Although both of the energy gap dependencies can be approximately reproduced by means of the simplified semiclassical equation, when we take into consideration the effect of the high frequency vibrations replaced by one mode of averaged frequency, many features, including the effects of solvent polarity and the electron tunneling matrix element on the energy gap law, differ considerably from those of the previously studied porphyrin-quinone systems, which have weaker interchromophore electronic interactions.     

Dynamics of closure of zinc bis-porphyrin molecular tweezers with copper(II) ions and electron transfer

Zinc bis-porphyrin molecular tweezers composed of a N(4) spacer bound through pyridyl units to the meso position of porphyrins were synthesized, and the tweezers are closed by the coordination of a copper(II) ion inside the spacer ligand. The effect of the π-π interaction between the porphyrin rings in the closed conformation on the absorption spectra of multi-electron oxidized species and the reduction potentials were clarified by chemical and electrochemical oxidation of the closed form of the zinc bis-porphyrin molecular tweezers in comparison with the open form without copper(II) ion and the corresponding porphyrin monomer. The shifts in redox potentials and absorption spectrum of the porphyrin dication indicate a strong electronic interaction between the two oxidized porphyrins in the closed form, whereas there is little interaction between them in the neutral form. The dynamics of copper(II) ion coordination and subsequent electron transfer was examined by using a stopped-flow UV/Vis spectroscopic technique. It was confirmed that coordination of copper(II) occurs prior to electron-transfer oxidation of the closed form of the zinc bis-porphyrin molecular tweezers.     

Control of electron transfer in a conjugated porphyrin dimer by selective excitation of planar and perpendicular conformers

A donor-acceptor system is presented in which the electron-transfer rates can be sensitively controlled by means of excitation wavelength and temperature. The electron donor is a butadiyne-linked zinc porphyrin dimer that is connected to a C(60) electron acceptor. The broad distribution of conformations allowed by the butadiyne linker makes it possible to selectively excite perpendicular or planar donor conformers and thereby prepare separate initial states with driving forces for electron transfer that differ by almost 0.2 eV. This, as well as significant differences in electronic coupling, leads to distinctly different rate constants for electron transfer, which in consequence can be controlled by changing excitation wavelength. By extending the system with a secondary donor (ferrocene), a second, long-range charge-separated state can be formed. This system has been used to test the influence of conformational heterogeneity on electron transfer mediated by the porphyrin dimer in the ground state. It was found that if the dimer is forced to a planar conformation by means of a bidentate ligand, the charge recombination rate increased by an order of magnitude relative to the unconstrained system. This illustrates how control of conformation of a molecular wire can affect its behaviour.     

Photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer and charge separation in zinc phthalocyanine-viologen linked system

Photoinduced electron transfer and charge separation processes in zinc phthalocya-nine-viologen linked system have been studied and the distance effect of donor/acceptor on electron transfer reaction is discussed. It is indicated that the fluorescence from the zinc phthalocyanine moiety is appreciably quenched and the life-time of singlet excited state is reduced by the pendant viologen. Time-resolved transient absorption spectra measurements show that intramolecular quenching of the triplet state of zinc phthalocyanine by the attached viologen results in charge separation giving reduced viologen radical alive for a rather long period with hundred microsecond duration. The effect of the carbon chain length on the electron transfer rate constant and charge separation efficiency suggests that upon excitation, the zinc phthalocyanine and viologen groups tend to take closer conformation with the increase of the carbon chain examined. The rate constant for the intramolecular electron transfer ket with n = 3     

Determining the Attenuation Factor in Molecular Wires Featuring Covalent and Noncovalent Tectons

Hybrid covalent/supramolecular porphyrin–fullerene structures were synthesized as highly efficient molecular wires with a remarkably low attenuation factor (β=0.07±0.01 Å^?1). Hydrogen‐bonding interactions and p‐phenylene oligomers of different lengths are responsible for efficient electron transfer in the molecular wires.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in alpha-cyclodextrin-based supramolecular dyads: a free-energy-dependence study

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between alpha-cyclodextrin-appended pyrene (PYCD) and a few acceptor molecules was studied in aqueous solutions. The pyrene moiety in PYCD is located above the narrower rim of the alpha-CD and is fully exposed to water. The acceptors are monocyclic organic molecules and, upon dissolution in water in the presence of PYCD, a fraction of the donor-acceptor systems is present as supramolecular dyads and the remaining fraction as free molecules. Free-energy-dependence studies showed that electron transfer in the supramolecular dyads follows the Marcus equation. The donor-acceptor coupling and the reorganization energy were determined from fits of the data to the Marcus equation. The electronic coupling was found to be similar to those reported for hydrogen-bonded systems. It appears that the actual lambdaout values are somewhat lower than values calculated with the continuum model. The experimental design has also allowed, for the first time, a visual demonstration of the inverted region on the basis of the raw fluorescence lifetime data.     

Molecular resistivities in organic polyenic wires: I. A one-dimensional photoconduction charge transfer model

In the present work we have developed a one-dimensional photoconduction charge transfer model, which allows us to determine the resistivities associated to π-conduction molecular channels of organic polyenic wires. In order to calculate the charge transmission coefficient through the conductor molecular wire, our model is based on the scattering process of electrons in metals according to Landauer's one-dimensional conductor approach. This model can be applied to those D–bridge–A molecular systems, constituted by an electron-donor group (D), an electron-acceptor group (A) and a polyenic conductor molecular bridge, which present a photoinduced charge transfer absorption band. According to the present model, molecular resistivities and resistances in the charge transfer excited state of a series of polyenic compounds containing several kinds of electron-donor groups and CO, as an electron-acceptor group, have been calculated by means of the INDO/S-CI method, in the framework of ZINDO semiempirical molecular orbital theory. The calculations allow us to determine the linear and nonlinear contributions to the total molecular resistance of the π-conduction channel in the charge transfer excited state. Linear resistivities for a series of polyenic aldehydes substituted by an electron-donor group (D=–CH₃, –OCH₃, –NH₂ and –N[CH₃]₂) range between 18 and 42 μΩ cm and these results agree with the order of magnitude expected in classic conductors such as metals, nonmetals, and doped polyacetylenic compounds in the ground state.     

Excitation-energy migration in self-assembled cyclic zinc(II)-porphyrin arrays: a close mimicry of a natural light-harvesting system

The excitation-energy-hopping (EEH) times within two-dimensional cyclic zinc(II)-porphyrin arrays 5 and 6, which were prepared by intermolecular coordination and ring-closing metathesis reaction of olefins, were deduced by modeling the EEH process based on the anisotropy depolarization as well as the exciton-exciton annihilation dynamics. Assuming the number of energy-hopping sites N = 5 and 6, the two different experimental observables, that is, anisotropy depolarization and exciton-excition annihilation times, consistently give the EEH times of 8.0 +/- 0.5 and 5.3 +/- 0.6 ps through the 1,3-phenylene linkages of 5 and 6, respectively. Accordingly, the self-assembled cyclic porphyrin arrays have proven to be well-defined two-dimensional models for natural light-harvesting complexes.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in multiporphyrinic interlocked structures: the effect of copper(I) coordination in the central site

Photoinduced processes have been determined in a [2]catenane containing a zinc(II) porphyrin, a gold(III) porphyrin, and two free phenanthroline binding sites, Zn-Au(+), and in the corresponding copper(I) phenanthroline complex, Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+). In acetonitrile solution Zn-Au(+) is present in two different conformations: an extended one, L, which accounts for 40 % of the total, and a compact one, S. In the L conformation, the electron transfer from the excited state of the Zn porphyrin to the gold-porphyrin unit (k = 1.3x10(9) s(-1)) is followed by a slow recombination (k = 8.3x10(7) s(-1)) to the ground state. The processes in the S conformation cannot be clearly resolved but a charge-separated (CS) state is rapidly formed and decays with a lifetime on the order of fifty picoseconds. In the catenate Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+), the zinc-porphyrin excited state initially transfers energy to the Cu(I)-phenantholine unit, producing a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state localized on the copper complex with a rate k = 1.4x10(9) s(-1). From this excited state the transfer of an electron to the gold-porphyrin unit takes place, producing the CS state Zn-Cu(2+)-Au(.), which decays with a lifetime of 10 ns. The results are discussed in comparison with the closely related [2]rotaxane, in which a further charge shift from the copper center to the zinc-porphyrin unit leads to the fully CS state. Even in the absence of such full charge separation, it is shown that the lifetimes of the CS states are increased by a factor of about 2-2.5 over those of the corresponding rotaxanes.     

生物体系中电子转移机理的研究Ⅱ: 分子间电子转移及 电子供、受体间不同基 团的影响

利用自编程序MOPAC-ET中AM1方法,及KT(Koopman'sTheorem)法,研究了二苯负离子体系的分子间电子转移现象,计算了其电子供、受体在不同距离下的V~A~B及它们之间的相关性,另外,还对两苯环间不同介入基团对电子转移的影响做了初步研究,发现不同的介入基团存在着较大的差异。     

Electronic reorganization triggered by electron transfer: The intervalence charge transfer of a Fe3+/Fe2+ bimetallic complex

The key role of the molecular orbitals in describing electron transfer processes is put in evidence for the intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) of a synthetic nonheme binuclear mixed‐valence Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ compound. The electronic reorganization induced by the IVCT can be quantified by controlling the adaptation of the molecular orbitals to the charge transfer process. We evaluate the transition energy and its polarization effects on the molecular orbitals by means of ab initio calculations. The resulting energetic profile of the IVCT shows strong similarities to the Marcus' model, suggesting a response behaviour of the ensemble of electrons analogue to that of the solvent. We quantify the extent of the electronic reorganization induced by the IVCT process to be 11.74 eV, a very large effect that induces the crossing of states reducing the total energy of the transfer to 0.89 eV. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.