Antenna effects in truxene-bridged BODIPY triarylzinc(II)porphyrin dyads: evidence for a dual Dexter-Förster mechanism.

The antenna process from an energy donor (BODIPY; 4',4'-difluoro-1',3',5',7'-tetramethyl-4'-bora-3a',4a'-diaza-s-indacene) in its singlet state to two acceptors (two zinc(II) 5,15-p-tolyl-10-phenylporphyrin) bridged by a central truxene residue (5',5'',10',10'',15',15''-hexabutyltruxene), 5, has been analysed by means of comparison of the energy transfer rates with those of a structurally similar ß-substituted BODIPY-(zinc(II) 5,10,15-p-tolyl-porphyrin), 6, where no conjugation is present between the donor and the two acceptors using the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) approximation. It is estimated that the energy transfer in operates mostly via a Dexter mechanism (>99%), and the remaining proceeds via a Förster mechanism (<1%). This information is useful for the design of future molecular devices aimed at harvesting light.

Slow and fast singlet energy transfers in BODIPY-gallium(III)corrole dyads linked by flexible chains.

Red (no styryl), green (monostyryl), and blue (distyryl) BODIPY-gallium(III) (BODIPY = boron-dipyrromethene) corrole dyads have been prepared in high yields using click chemistry, and their photophysical properties are reported. An original and efficient control of the direction of the singlet energy transfers is reported, going either from BODIPY to the gallium-corrole units or from gallium-corroles to BODIPY, depending upon the nature of the substitution on BODIPY. In one case (green), both directions are possible. The mechanism for the energy transfers is interpreted by means of through-space Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET).

Porphyrin-templated synthetic G-quartet (PorphySQ): a second prototype of G-quartet-based G-quadruplex ligand.

Template-assembled synthetic G-quartet (TASQ) has been reported recently as a G-quadruplex ligand interacting with DNA according to an unprecedented, nature-inspired 'like likes like' approach, based on the association between two G-quartets, one being native (quadruplex) and the other one artificial (ligand). Herein, a novel TASQ-based ligand is designed, synthesized and its quadruplex-recognition properties are evaluated in vitro: PorphySQ (for porphyrin-templated synthetic G-quartet) displays enhanced quadruplex recognition properties as compared to the very first reported prototype (DOTASQ, for DOTA-templated synthetic G-quartet), since the porphyrin template insures a more stable intramolecular G-quartet fold due to self-stabilizing interactions that may take place intramolecularly between the porphyrin ring and the formed G-quartet.

Synthesis and photodynamics of fluorescent blue BODIPY-porphyrin tweezers linked by triazole rings.

Novel zinc porphyrin tweezers in which two zinc porphyrins were connected with π-conjugated boron dipyrromethenes (BDP meso-Por(2) and BDP ß-Por(2)) through triazole rings were synthesized to investigate the photoinduced energy transfer and electron transfer. The UV-vis spectrum of BDP ß-Por(2) which has less bulky substituents than BDP meso-Por(2) exhibits splitting of the Soret band as a result of the interaction between porphyrins of BDP ß-Por(2) in the excited state. Such interaction between porphyrins of both BDP ß-Por(2) and BDP meso-Por(2) is dominant at room temperature, while the coordination of the nitrogen atoms of the triazole rings to the zinc ions of the porphyrins occurs at low temperature. The conformational change of the BDP-porphyrin composites was confirmed by the changes in UV-vis and fluorescence spectra depending on temperature. Photodynamics of BDP meso-Por(2) and BDP ß-Por(2) has also been investigated by laser flash photolysis. Efficient singlet-singlet energy transfer from the ZnP to the π-conjugated BDP moiety of both BDP meso-Por(2) and BDP ß-Por(2) occurred in opposite direction as compared to energy transfer from conventional BDP to ZnP due to the π-conjugation in nonpolar toluene. In polar benzonitrile, however, additional electron transfer occurred along with energy transfer.

B,B-Diporphyrinbenzyloxy-BODIPY dyes: synthesis and antenna effect.

B,B-Diporphyrinbenzyloxy-BODIPY derivatives have been prepared in high yields, and the photophysical properties are reported. Singlet energy transfers from BODIPY to the porphyrin units have been analyzed.

Biomimetic oxygen reduction by cofacial porphyrins at a liquid-liquid interface.

Oxygen reduction catalyzed by cofacial metalloporphyrins at the 1,2-dichlorobenzene-water interface was studied with two lipophilic electron donors of similar driving force, 1,1'-dimethylferrocene (DMFc) and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). The reaction produces mainly water and some hydrogen peroxide, but the mediator has a significant effect on the selectivity, as DMFc and the porphyrins themselves catalyze the decomposition and the further reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the biscobaltporphyrin, 4,5-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]-9,9-dimethylxanthene, Co(2)(DPX), actually catalyzes oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide when oxygen is bound on the "exo" side ("dock-on") of the catalyst, while four-electron reduction takes place with oxygen bound on the "endo" side ("dock-in") of the molecule. These results can be explained by a "dock-on/dock-in" mechanism. The next step for improving bioinspired oxygen reduction catalysts would be blocking the "dock-on" path to achieve selective four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen.

Self-assembled molecular rafts at liquid|liquid interfaces for four-electron oxygen reduction.

The self-assembly of the oppositely charged water-soluble porphyrins, cobalt tetramethylpyridinium porphyrin (CoTMPyP(4+)) and cobalt tetrasulphonatophenyl porphyrin (CoTPPS(4-)), at the interface with an organic solvent to form molecular "rafts", provides an excellent catalyst to perform the interfacial four-electron reduction of oxygen by lipophilic electron donors such as tetrathiafulvalene (TTF). The catalytic activity and selectivity of the self-assembled catalyst toward the four-electron pathway was found to be as good as that of the Pacman type cofacial cobalt porphyrins. The assembly has been characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Surface Second Harmonic Generation, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Density functional theory calculations confirm the possibility of formation of the catalytic CoTMPyP(4+)/ CoTPPS(4-) complex and its capability to bind oxygen.

Design and photophysical properties of zinc(II) porphyrin-containing dendrons linked to a central artificial special pair.

The click chemistry synthesis and photophysical properties, notably photo-induced energy and electron transfers between the central core and the peripheral chromophores of a series of artificial special pair-dendron systems (dendron = G1, G2, G3; Gx = zinc(II) tetra-meso-arylporphyrin-containing polyimides) built upon a central core of dimethylxanthenebis(metal(II) porphyrin) (metal = zinc, copper), are reported. The dendrons act as singlet and triplet energy acceptors or donors, depending on the dendrimeric systems. The presence of the paramagnetic d(9) copper(II) in the dendrimers promotes singlet-triplet energy transfer from the zinc(II) tetra-meso-arylporphyrin to the bis(copper(II) porphyrin) unit and slow triplet-triplet energy transfer from the central bis(copper(II) porphyrin) fragment to the peripheral zinc(II) tetra-meso-arylporphyrin. If bis(zinc(II) porphyrin) is the central core, evidence for chain folding is observed; this is unambiguously demonstrated by the presence of triplet-triplet energy transfer in the heterobimetallic systems, a process that can only occur at short distances.

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.

Fine tuning of the catalytic effect of a metal-free porphyrin on the homogeneous oxygen reduction.

The catalytic effect of tetraphenylporphyrin on the oxygen reduction with ferrocene in 1,2-dichloroethane can be finely tuned by varying the molar ratio of the acid to the catalyst present in the solution. The mechanism involves binding of molecular oxygen to the protonated free porphyrin base, in competition with ion pairing between the protonated base and the acid anion present.

Electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of bismanganese porphyrin-corrole dyads.

A series of homobimetallic manganese cofacial porphyrin-corrole dyads were synthesized and investigated as to their electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry, and ligand binding properties in nonaqueous media. Four dyads were investigated, each of which contained a Mn(III) corrole linked in a face-to-face arrangement with a Mn(III) porphyrin. The main difference between compounds in the series is the type of spacer, 9,9-dimethylxanthene, anthracene, dibenzofuran, or diphenylether, which determines the distance and interaction between the metallomacrocycles. Each redox process of the porphyrin-corrole dyads was assigned on the basis of spectroscopic and electrochemical data and by comparison with reactions and properties of the monocorrole and the monoporphyrin which were examined under the same solution conditions. The Mn(III) porphyrin part of the dyad undergoes two major one-electron reductions in pyridine and benzonitrile, the first of which involves a Mn(III)/Mn(II) process and the second the addition of an electron to the conjugated π-ring system of the macrocycle. The Mn(III) corrole part of the dyads also exhibits two major redox processes, one involving Mn(III)/Mn(II) and the other Mn(III) to Mn(IV) under the same solution conditions. The potentials and reversibility of each electron transfer reaction were shown to depend upon the solvent, type of spacer separating the two macrocycles, and the presence or absence of axial ligation, the latter of which was investigated in detail for the case of acetate ion which was found to bind within the cavity of the dyad to both manganese centers, both before and after the stepwise electroreduction to the Mn(II) forms of the two macrocycles. An intramolecular chloride ion exchange between the porphyrin part of the dyads which contain Mn(III)Cl and the singly oxidized corrole in the dyad is observed after the Mn(III)/Mn(IV) reaction of the corrole, suggesting that chloride is coordinated inside the cavity in the neutral compound.

Greatly enhanced intermolecular π-dimer formation of a porphyrin trimer radical trications through multiple π†bonds.

A trefoil-like porphyrin trimer linked by triphenylamine (TPA-TPZn(3)) was synthesized. A three-electron oxidation of TPA-TPZn(3) forms a radical trication (TPA-TPZn(3)(3+)), in which each porphyrin ring undergoes a one-electron oxidation. The radical trication TPA-TPZn(3)(3+) spontaneously dimerizes to afford (TPA-TPZn(3))(2)(6+) in CH(2)Cl(2) . The characteristic charge-resonance band due to the charge delocalization over the π system of (TPA-TPZn(3))(2)(6+) was observed in the NIR region. The initial oxidation potential of TPA-TPZn(3) is negatively shifted relative to that of the corresponding monomer porphyrin, which results from the stabilization of the oxidized state of TPA-TPZn(3) associated with the dimerization. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., ΔH, ΔS, and ΔG) for the formation of (TPA-TPZn(3))(2)(6+) were determined by measuring Vis/NIR spectra at various temperatures. The formation constant of (TPA-TPZn(3))(2)(6+) is significantly larger than that of the radical cation dimer of the corresponding monomer porphyrin (e.g., over 2000-fold at 233 K). The electronic states were investigated using EPR spectroscopic analysis. The greatly enhanced dimerization of TPA-TPZn(3)(3+) results from multiple π-bond formation between the porphyrin radical cations.

X-ray detected magnetic resonance: a unique probe of the precession dynamics of orbital magnetization components.

X-ray Detected Magnetic Resonance (XDMR) is a novel spectroscopy in which X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) is used to probe the resonant precession of local magnetization components in a strong microwave pump field. We review the conceptual bases of XDMR and recast them in the general framework of the linear and nonlinear theories of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). Emphasis is laid on the information content of XDMR spectra which offer a unique opportunity to disentangle the precession dynamics of spin and orbital magnetization components at given absorbing sites. For the sake of illustration, we focus on selected examples in which marked differences were found between FMR and XDMR spectra simultaneously recorded on ferrimagnetically ordered iron garnets. With pumping capabilities extended up to sub-THz frequencies, high-field XDMR should allow us to probe the precession of orbital magnetization components in paramagnetic organometallic complexes with large zero-field splitting. Even more challenging, we suggest that XDMR spectra might be recorded on selected antiferromagnetic crystals for which orbital magnetism is most often ignored in the absence of any supporting experimental evidence.

Oxygen reduction catalyzed by a fluorinated tetraphenylporphyrin free base at liquid/liquid interfaces.

The diprotonated form of a fluorinated free base porphyrin, namely 5-(p-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-tris(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (H(2)FAP), can catalyze the reduction of oxygen by a weak electron donor, namely ferrocene (Fc). At a water/1,2-dichloroethane interface, the interfacial formation of H(4)FAP(2+) is observed by UV-vis spectroscopy and ion-transfer voltammetry, due to the double protonation of H(2)FAP at the imino nitrogen atoms in the tetrapyrrole ring. H(4)FAP(2+) is shown to bind oxygen, and the complex in the organic phase can easily be reduced by Fc to produce hydrogen peroxide as studied by two-phase reactions with the Galvani potential difference between the two phases being controlled by the partition of a common ion. Spectrophotometric measurements performed in 1,2-dichloroethane solutions clearly evidence that reduction of oxygen by Fc catalyzed by H(4)FAP(2+) only occurs in the presence of the tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (TB(-)) counteranion in the organic phase. Finally, ab initio computations support the catalytic activation of H(4)FAP(2+) on oxygen.

Three-metal coordination by novel bisporphyrin architectures.

The synthesis and characterization of a new type of bisporphyrin system is reported where the two macrocycles are linked in a cofacial arrangement by a substituted carbazole bridge. The three nitrogen atoms of the carbazole bridge in the compounds may complex a metal ion and thus provide a new parameter for varying the physical properties and flexibility of the dyad after formation of a three-metal system. In the present study, four bis-metalloporphyrin complexes were synthesized and examined by electrochemistry and thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry in CH(2)Cl(2) and PhCN. Two of the examined compounds contain Cu(II) or Zn(II) porphyrins and a carbazole linker with a bound Cu(II) ion, giving a three metal system, while the other two examined compounds contained the same porphyrins but with a carbazole bridge which lacks the Cu(II) component. Since carbazoles and Cu(II) ions are both electroactive, redox properties of several unlinked carbazoles with and without bound Cu(II) ions were also examined as to their electrochemical behavior under the same solution conditions as the dyads to better understand the redox reactions which may occur at the carbazole group linking the two porphyrin macrocycles. Several mononuclear porphyrins with structures related to macrocycles in the dyads were also investigated.

Photodynamics in stable complexes composed of a zinc porphyrin tripod and pyridyl porphyrins assembled by multiple coordination bonds.

A tripod zinc porphyrin (TPZn(3)) forms a stable 1:1 complex with gold(III) tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (AuTPyP(+)) and free-base tris(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (2H-Py(3)P) in nonpolar solvents. The strong binding of TPZn(3) with AuTPyP(+) or 2H-Py(3)P results from the encapsulation of AuTPyP(+) or 2H-Py(3)P inside the cavity of TPZn(3) through multiple coordination bonds, as indicated by UV-vis-NIR, ESI-MS, (1)H NMR, electrochemistry and computational studies. The binding constants of monomer zinc porphyrin (MPZn) with AuTPyP(+) and 2H-Py(3)P drastically decrease as compared with TPZn(3). Detailed photophysical studies have been carried out on these composites using laser flash photolysis as well as emission spectroscopy. The efficient quenching of the singlet excited state of TPZn(3) occurs via a photoinduced electron-transfer pathway in the TPZn(3)-AuTPyP(+) complex. In contrast, energy transfer occurs in the TPZn(3)-2H-Py(3)P complex due to the smaller driving force of the photoinduced electron-transfer pathway. Neither electron transfer nor energy transfer occurs from MPZn to AuTPyP(+) under the same experimental conditions due to the small association constant of the monomer zinc porphyrin.

Dioxygen reduction by cobalt(II) octaethylporphyrin at liquid|liquid interfaces.

Oxygen reduction catalyzed by cobalt(II) (2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrin) [Co(OEP)] at soft interfaces is studied by voltammetry and biphasic reactions. When Co(OEP) is present in a solution of 1,2-dichloroethane in contact with an aqueous acidic solution, oxygen is reduced if the interface is positively polarized (water phase versus organic phase). This reduction reaction is facilitated when an additional electron donor, here ferrocene, is present in excess in the organic phase.

Efficient photoinduced electron transfer in a porphyrin tripod-fullerene supramolecular complex via pi-pi interactions in nonpolar media.

A novel porphyrin tripod (TPZn(3)) was synthesized via "click chemistry". Three porphyrin moieties of TPZn(3) are geometrically close and linked by a flexible linker. The electron-transfer oxidation of TPZn(3) results in intramolecular pi-dimer formation between porphyrin moieties as indicated by electrochemical, vis-NIR, and ESR measurements. The cyclic voltammogram of TPZn(3) exhibited stepwise one-electron oxidation processes of three porphyrin moieties in the range from 0.58 to 0.73 V (vs SCE in CH(2)Cl(2)). When TPZn(3) was oxidized by tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)-ruthenium(III) ([Ru(bpy)(3)](3+)), the oxidized species (TPZn(3))(n+) (0 < n

Molecular electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction by cobalt porphyrins adsorbed at liquid/liquid interfaces.

Molecular electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction at a polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) interface was studied, involving aqueous protons, ferrocene (Fc) in DCE and amphiphilic cobalt porphyrin catalysts adsorbed at the interface. The catalyst, (2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethyl-5-p-amino-phenylporphyrin) cobalt(II) (CoAP), functions like conventional cobalt porphyrins, activating O(2) via coordination by the formation of a superoxide structure. Furthermore, due to the hydrophilic nature of the aminophenyl group, CoAP has a strong affinity for the water/DCE interface as evidenced by lipophilicity mapping calculations and surface tension measurements, facilitating the protonation of the CoAP-O(2) complex and its reduction by ferrocene. The reaction is electrocatalytic as its rate depends on the applied Galvani potential difference between the two phases.

Soluble heterometallic coordination polymers based on a bis-terpyridine-functionalized dioxocyclam ligand.

Soluble homo- and heterometallic coordination polymers containing transition metal cations (Cu(2+), Fe(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+) ions) were prepared in a two-step procedure using a polytopic bis(terpyridine)dioxocyclam ligand 1H(2) (dioxocyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-5,7-dione). These supramolecular systems incorporate two different metal complexes, the metal cations being located both between two terpyridine units and in the macrocyclic framework. The characterization of these soluble architectures was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, mass spectrometry, viscosimetry, and UV-vis absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. Our results clearly indicate the formation of well-organized heterometallic polymers in which two different metal ions alternate in the self-assembled structure. These investigations furthermore brought to light an original acid-controlled disassembling process of the homometallic copper(II) polymer into dinuclear complexes.