Synthesis of Diazacrown Ethers with Chromophores and Their Photoinduced Charge‐Separation with Methyl Viologen

Two 4,13‐diaza‐18‐crown‐6 ethers with either two pyrenyl or two carbazolyl groups were synthesized. The two crown ethers can form complexes with methyl viologen in methanol solution. Photoirradiation of the complexes resulted in the electron transfer from the excited states of the chromophores to methyl viologen as demonstrated by the quenching of the chromophore fluorescence and the detection of the absorption spectrum of the generated viologen radical cation. The back electron transfer in these systems was inhibited by the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged viologen radical cation and the generated chromophore radical cation. Long‐lived charge separation states (up to tens of min) were observed.