| Abstract: | Two examples of a new class of compounds, polyenes covalently linked to meso-tetraarylporphyrins, have been prepared. Optical studies revealed that energy transfer from a 26 π electron polyene moiety to the porphyrin was zero, whereas energy transfer efficiency from a polyene containing 18 π electrons was ?80%. The results demonstrate that the polyene moiety can function as an efficient light gathering antenna for possible application to porphyrin-based solar energy conversion schemes. In addition, such polyene-porphyrin esters may serve as probes of the structural requisites for light harvesting by carotenoids in the photosynthetic membranes of green plants. |
