Geometrically homogeneous series of covalently linked zinc/free-base porphyrin dimers of varying length; design, synthesis and characterization

Journal article, 2006

Singlet excitation energy transfer, SEET, can be mediated by a bridge, connecting an energy donor and acceptor, via a superexchange mechanism. The mediation efficiency depends on the energy difference between the first excited states of the donor and the bridge, DEDB, as well as the donor-acceptor distance, RDA. We have previously constructed a series of donor-bridge-acceptor, D-B-A, systems that allowed us to study how SEET depends on DEDB. To expand this study into a second dimension, the distance dependence, a new series of D-B-A systems were constructed. This series was based on the same zinc/free-base porphyrin couple as the donor-acceptor pair in the previous series. Their relative orientation was also retained. In contrast to our first series, the bridges in the latter were of varying length. The bridges were oligo(phenyleneethynylene)phenylene (OPE) structures and the length was systematically changed by increasing the no. of phenyleneethynylene units from 1 to 4. To obtain high quality samples, the D-B-A systems were assembled by a building block approach where the zinc and free-base porphyrins were introduced sep. using Heck alkynylations. The performance of the OPE structure as a mediator and scaffold is discussed in terms of singlet excited state energies and flexibility. For the first time, when combining the topical D-B-A systems with our previous subset, a homogeneous series of D-B-A systems has been synthesized that allows for studies of both the distance dependence and the energy difference dependence of SEET.