Design and synthesis of molecular architectures with tailord excited state deactivation channels

Research Project, 2012 – 2014

Activities are suggested that contribute new and relevant knowledge to the design and preparation of light absorbing molecules programmed to translate the radiation energy into predetermined actions. The action can be to produce singlet oxygen in photodynamic therapy of cancer, to transfer an electron in a molecular electronics device or just to dissipate the radiation energy as heat to prevent photodegradation of plastic materials. Porphyrins are versatile chromophores in the two former applications. To this end, solid-phase methodologies will be developed and explored for the synthesis of porphyrins tailored for the purposes. A synthetic route to the largely unexplored chromophore scytoneman will be established. This will be put into practice to prepare series of analogues to study the extraordinarily ability of this chromophore to dissipate excitation energy and the mechanism by which it occurs. Many actions wished-for require several chromophores to interoperate highly specifically. Methods to establish the necessary connection between chromophores by precise assembly of them, either by covalent bonds or non-covalent bonds, will be explored. In particular, methods for covalent structural modification of porphyrins will be optimized in response to the special reactivity pattern displayed by porphyrinoids. Oligoporphyrin systems covalently assembled will be used to delineate specific details about the mechanisms for transfer processes relevant to molecular electronics.

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