Gold(III) porphyrins containing two, three, or four ß,ß'-fused quinoxalines. Synthesis, electrochemistry, and effect of structure and acidity on electroreduction mechanism.

Gold(III) porphyrins containing two, three, or four ß,ß'-fused quinoxalines were synthesized and examined as to their electrochemical properties in tetrahydrofuran (THF), pyridine, CH2Cl2, and CH2Cl2 containing added acid in the form of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The investigated porphyrins are represented as Au(PQ2)PF6, Au(PQ3)PF6, and Au(PQ4)PF6, where P is the dianion of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin and Q is a quinoxaline group fused to a ß,ß'-pyrrolic position of the porphyrin macrocycle. In the absence of added acid, all three gold(III) porphyrins undergo a reversible one-electron oxidation and several reductions. The first reduction is characterized as a Au(III)/Au(II) process which is followed by additional porphyrin- and quinoxaline-centered redox reactions at more negative potentials. However, when 3-5 equivalents of acid are added to the CH2Cl2 solution, the initial Au(III)/Au(II) process is followed by a series of internal electron transfers and protonations, leading ultimately to triply reduced and doubly protonated Au(II)(PQ2H2) in the case of Au(III)(PQ2)(+), quadruply reduced and triply protonated Au(II)(PQ3H3) in the case of Au(III)(PQ3)(+), and Au(II)(PQ4H4) after addition of five electrons and four protons in the case of Au(III)(PQ4)(+). Under these solution conditions, the initial Au(PQ2)PF6 compound is shown to undergo a total of three Au(III)/Au(II) processes while Au(PQ3)PF6 and Au(PQ4)PF6 exhibit four and five metal-centered one-electron reductions, respectively, prior to the occurrence of additional reductions at the conjugated macrocycle and fused quinoxaline rings. Each redox reaction was monitored by cyclic voltammetry and thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry, and an overall mechanism for reduction in nonaqueous media with and without added acid is proposed. The effect of the number of Q groups on half-wave potentials for reduction and UV-visible spectra of the electroreduced species are analyzed using linear free energy relationships.

Unusual multi-step sequential Au(III)/Au(II) processes of gold(III) quinoxalinoporphyrins in acidic non-aqueous media.

The electrochemistry of gold(III) mono- and bis-quinoxalinoporphyrins was examined in CH(2)Cl(2) or PhCN containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) before and after the addition of trifluoroacetic acid to solution. The investigated porphyrins are represented as Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6), where P is the dianion of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin and Q is a quinoxaline group fused to a ß,ß'-pyrrolic position of the porphyrin macrocycle; in Au(QPQ)PF(6) there is a linear arrangement where the quinoxalines are fused to pyrrolic positions that are opposite each other. The porphyrin without the fused quinoxaline groups, Au(P)PF(6), was also investigated under the same solution conditions. In the absence of acid, all three gold(III) porphyrins undergo a single reversible Au(III)/Au(II) process leading to the formation of a Au(II) porphyrin which can be further reduced at more negative potentials to give stepwise the Au(II) porphyrin π-anion radical and dianion, respectively. However, in the presence of acid, the initial Au(III)/Au(II) processes of Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) are followed by an internal electron transfer and protonation to regenerate new Au(III) porphyrins assigned as Au(III)(PQH)(+) and Au(III)(QPQH)(+). Both protonated gold(III) quinoxalinoporphyrins then undergo a second Au(III)/Au(II) process at more negative potentials. The electrogenerated monoprotonated monoquinoxalinoporphyrin, Au(II)(PQH), is then further reduced to its π-anion radical and dianion forms, but this is not the case for the monoprotonated bis-quinoxalinoporphyrin, Au(II)(QPQH), which accepts a second proton and is rapidly converted to Au(III)(HQPQH)(+) before undergoing a third Au(III)/Au(II) process to produce Au(II)(HQPQH) as a final product. Thus, Au(P)PF(6) undergoes one metal-centered reduction while Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) exhibit two and three Au(III)/Au(II) processes, respectively. These unusual multistep sequential Au(III)/Au(II) processes were monitored by thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry and a reduction/oxidation mechanism for Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) in acidic media is proposed.

Electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of beta,beta'-fused quinoxalinoporphyrins and related extended bis-porphyrins with Co(III), Co(II), and Co(I) central metal ions.

A series of cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) porphyrins with fused quinoxaline rings at one or more beta,beta'-pyrrolic units of the macrocycle were synthesized and characterized as to their electrochemical properties in nonaqueous media. Their UV-visible spectra were also measured before and during oxidation or reduction in a thin-layer cell. The investigated quinoxalinoporphyrins are represented as (PQ)Co, (QPQ)CoCl, (PQ(2))CoCl, Co(P)-TA-(P)Co, and Co(PQ)-(QP)Co, where PQ = the dianion of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-quinoxalino[2,3-b']porphyrin, QPQ = the dianion of the corresponding linear bisquinoxalino[2,3-b':12,13-b'']porphyrin, PQ(2) = the dianion of the corresponding corner bisquinoxalino[2,3-b':7,8-b'']porphyrin, and (P)-TA-(P) = the tetraanion of the bis-porphyrin with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrins fused at opposite ends of tetraazaanthracene. (P)Co and (P)CoCl were also characterized where P = the dianion of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin. Each compound could be cycled between their Co(III), Co(II), and Co(I) forms under the application of a given oxidizing or reducing potential, although a one-electron reduction of the Co(II) quinoxalinoporphyrins led to a product with mixed Co(I) and porphyrin pi-anion radical character followed by generation of a pure Co(I) pi-anion radical species at more negative potentials. The effect of the position and number of quinoxaline groups on the redox potentials and mechanisms of each electron transfer were elucidated, and comparisons made to structurally similar compounds containing both redox active and redox inactive central metal ions. Surprisingly, the position and number of quinoxaline groups on the macrocycle has little or no effect on the redox potentials for the Co(II) --> Co(III) or Co(III) --> Co(II) processes, but this is not the case for other electron transfer reactions where significant differences are seen between the examined compounds. Significant interactions are also observed between the two porphyrin macrocycles of the laterally bridged dicobalt(II) bis-porphyrin dyad Co(P)-TA-(P)Co in its singly and doubly reduced form, but only weak interactions are seen between the two Co(PQ) units of the single bond biquinolalinyl-bridged dicobalt(II) bis-porphyrin dyad Co(PQ)-(QP)Co.

Change in the site of electron-transfer reduction of a zinc-quinoxalinoporphyrin/gold-quinoxalinoporphyrin dyad by binding of scandium ions and the resulting remarkable elongation of the charge-shifted-state lifetime.

The site of electron-transfer reduction of AuPQ(+) (PQ = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)quino-xalino[2, 3-b']porphyrin) and AuQPQ(+) (QPQ = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)bisquinoxalino[2,3-b':12,13-b'']porphyrin) is changed from the Au(III) center to the quinoxaline part of the PQ macrocycle in the presence of Sc(3+) in benzonitrile because of strong binding of Sc(3+) to the two nitrogen atoms of the quinoxaline moiety. Strong binding of Sc(3+) to the corresponding nitrogen atoms on the quinoxaline unit of ZnPQ also occurs for the neutral form. The effects of Sc(3+) on the photodynamics of an electron donor-acceptor compound containing a linked Zn(II) and Au(III) porphyrin ([ZnPQ-AuPQ]PF(6)) have been examined by femto- and nanosecond laser flash photolysis measurements. The observed transient absorption bands at 630 and 670 nm after laser pulse irradiation in the absence of Sc(3+) in benzonitrile are assigned to the charge-shifted (CS) state (ZnPQ(*)(+)-AuPQ). The CS state decays through back electron transfer (BET) to the ground state rather than to the triplet excited state. The BET rate was determined from the disappearance of the absorption band due to the CS state. The decay of the CS state obeys first-order kinetics. The CS lifetime was determined to be 250 ps in benzonitrile. Addition of Sc(3+) to a solution of ZnPQ-AuPQ(+) in benzonitrile caused a drastic lengthening of the CS lifetime that was determined to be 430 ns, a value 1700 times longer than the 250 ps lifetime measured in the absence of Sc(3+). Such remarkable prolongation of the CS lifetime in the presence of Sc(3+) results from a change in the site of electron transfer from the Au(III) center to the quinoxaline part of the PQ macrocycle when Sc(3+) binds to the quinoxaline moiety, which decelerate BET due to a large reorganization energy of electron transfer. The change in the site of electron transfer was confirmed by ESR measurements, redox potentials, and UV/Vis spectra of the singly reduced products.

Androgynous porphyrins. Silver(II) quinoxalinoporphyrins act as both good electron donors and acceptors.

The metal-centered and macrocycle-centered electron-transfer oxidations and reductions of silver(II) porphyrins were characterized in nonaqueous media by electrochemistry, UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The investigated compounds are {5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrinato}silver(II), {5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)quinoxalino[2,3-b']porphyrinato}silver(II), {5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)bisquinoxalino[2,3-b':7,8-b'']porphyrinato}silver(II), and {5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)bisquinoxalino[2,3-b':12,13-b'']porphyrinato}silver(II). The first one-electron oxidation and first one-electron reduction both occur at the metal center to produce stable compounds with Ag(III) or Ag(I) metal oxidation states, irrespective of the type of porphyrin ligand. The electrochemical HOMO-LUMO gap, determined by the difference in the first oxidation and first reduction potentials, decreases by introduction of quinoxaline groups fused to the Ag(II) porphyrin macrocycle. This provides a unique androgynous character to Ag(II) quinoxalinoporphyrins that enables them to act as both good electron donors and good electron acceptors, something not previously observed in other metalloporphyrin complexes. The second one-electron oxidation and second one-electron reduction of the compounds both occur at the porphyrin macrocycle to produce Ag(III) porphyrin pi-radical cations and Ag(I) porphyrin pi-radical anions, respectively. The macrocycle-centered oxidation potentials of each quinoxalinoporphyrin are shifted in a negative direction, while the macrocycle-centered reduction potentials are shifted in a positive direction as compared to the same electrode reactions of the porphyrin without the fused quinoxaline ring(s). Both potential shifts are due to a stabilization of the radical cations and radical anions by pi-extension of the porphyrin macrocycle after fusion of one or two quinoxaline moieties at the beta-pyrrolic positions of the macrocycle. Introduction of quinoxaline groups fused to the Ag(II) porphyrin macrocycle provides a unique androgynous character to Ag(II) quinoxalinoporphyrins that enables them to act as both good electron donors and good electron acceptors.

Quinoxalino[2,3-b']porphyrins behave as pi-expanded porphyrins upon one-electron reduction: broad control of the degree of delocalization through substitution at the macrocycle periphery.

The synthesis and redox properties of a series of free-base and metal(II) quinoxalino[2,3-b']porphyrins and their use in an investigation of the substituent effects on the degree of communication between the porphyrin and its beta,beta'-fused quinoxalino component are reported. ESR, thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry, and quantum chemical calculations of the resultant radical anions from one-electron reduction indicate that localization of the unpaired electron across both the porphyrin and the fused quinoxalino group can be controlled, the system as a whole behaving as a highly polarizable pi-expanded porphyrin radical anion. ESR studies on the radical anions of zinc(II) quinoxalino[2,3-b']porphyrin derivatives indicate that nitrogen-atom spin distribution changes as a function of chemical substitution: 27% quinoxaline character when the porphyrin ring bears a 7-nitro substituent, 34% quinoxaline character in the unsubstituted parent, and 51-61% nitroquinoxaline character when the quinoxalino unit has one or more nitro groups. Close analogies are found between the calculated and observed nitrogen-atom spin distributions, indicating that the calculations embody the key chemical effects. The calculations also indicate that the nitrogen-atom spin distributions closely parallel the important total porphyrin, quinoxaline, and nitro spin distributions, indicating that the observed quantities realistically depict the change in the nature of the delocalization of the radical anion as a function of chemical substitution. The profound effects observed indicate long-range communication of the type that is essential in molecular electronics applications.

Evidence that gold(III) porphyrins are not electrochemically inert: facile generation of gold(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin.

Gold(III) porphyrin 1 is shown to undergo reduction at the central metal ion to give the first known gold(II) porphyrin overturning the long held assumption that reduction of such complexes only occurs at the macrocycle.

The photophysics of selectively metallated arrays of quinoxaline-fused tetraarylporphyrins.

A comprehensive study of the photophysical interactions occurring in tris-porphyrin and tetrakis-porphyrin arrays and has been undertaken. The arrays consist of porphyrins with quinoxaline units fused at the beta,beta'-pyrrolic faces of the macrocycle. The linkage geometry is such that these arrays resemble the arrangement of chromophores that constitute natural photosynthetic reaction centres (PRCs). Selective metallation of the terminal chromophores of the arrays with Zn(II) and Au(III) allows directional electron and energy transfer processes to occur. The results show that excitation at any chromophore of the arrays leads to efficient charge transfer across the length of the arrays, distances of 35 and 50 A for and , respectively. Charge recombination is several orders of magnitude slower in both cases. The excellent performance of these arrays is attributed in part to the use of quinoxalinoporphyrins. Linked appropriately, pi-system-fused porphyrins can exhibit strong electronic communication in the excited state, whilst being effectively insulated in the ground state. As such, arrays of these porphyrins might find use as components of photovoltaic devices.

Control of the orbital delocalization and implications for molecular rectification in the radical anions of porphyrins with coplanar 90 degrees and 180 degrees beta,beta'-fused extensions.

Through-porphyrin electronic communication is investigated using "linear-type" and "corner-type" bis(quinoxalino)porphyrins in free-base form and their ZnII, CuII, NiII, and PdII derivatives. These compounds are porphyrins with quinoxalines fused on opposite or adjacent beta,beta'-pyrrolic positions; they were synthesized from 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-porphyrin-2,3,12,13- and -2,3,7,8-tetraone, respectively, by reaction with 1,2-phenylenediamine. The degree of electron spin delocalization into the fused rings in the pi-radical anions of the free-base and metal(II) bisquinoxalinoporphyrins was elucidated by electrochemistry, UV-vis absorption, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the singly reduced species and density functional theory calculations. Hyperfine splitting patterns in the ESR spectra of the pi-radical anions show that symmetric molecules have delocalized electron spin, indicating that significant inter-quinoxaline interactions are mediated through the central porphyrin unit, these interactions being sufficient to guarantee through-molecule conduction. However, when molecular symmetry is broken by tautomeric exchange of the inner nitrogen hydrogens in the free-base porphyrin with a corner-type quinoxaline substitution pattern, the pi-radical anion becomes confined so that one quinoxaline group is omitted from spin delocalization. This indicates the appearance of a unidirectional barrier to through-molecule conduction, suggesting a new motif for chemically controlled rectification.

Control of the site and potential of reduction and oxidation processes in pi-expanded quinoxalinoporphyrins.

Quinoxalino[2,3-b']porphyrins are pi-expanded porphyrins, having a quinoxaline fused to a beta,beta'-pyrrolic position of the porphyrin. They are used as components in systems proposed as 'molecular wires'. Knowledge of their redox properties is of value in the design of electron- or hole-conduction systems. In particular, the location of the charge density in the radical anions of quinoxalinoporphyrins can be modulated by peripheral functionalization. New theoretical treatments of electrochemical potentials are developed that identify the site of reduction in both the anions and the dianions of 33 quinoxalinoporphyrins. These molecules include free-base and metallated macrocycles substituted on the quinoxaline with electron-withdrawing groups (NO2, Cl, Br) and/or electron-donating groups (NH2, OCH3). Spectroelectrochemistry, density-functional theory calculations, and substituent-parameter models are used to verify the analysis. Five distinct patterns are observed for the locations of the first and second reductions; some of these patterns involve delocalized charges. Nitroquinoxalinoporphyrins with the nitro groups at the 5- and 6-quinoxaline positions are found to have quite different properties owing to distortions caused by peri interactions that force the nitro group of the 5-nitro regioisomer out of conjugation. Charge localization on the nitroquinoxaline fragment is found for some molecules, and this is attributed to ion-pairing with the 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate electrolyte used, leading to the verified prediction that electron-paramagnetic resonance spectra of these molecules taken without the electrolyte yield delocalized anions. These properties enable the control of conduction through molecular wires synthesised from quinoxalinoporphyrins.

Control of the site and potential of reduction and oxidation processes in pi-expanded quinoxalinoporphyrins.

Quinoxalino[2,3-b]porphyrins are pi-expanded porphyrins, having a quinoxaline fused to a beta,beta-pyrrolic position of the porphyrin. They are used as components in systems proposed as molecular wires. Knowledge of their redox properties is of value in the design of electron- or hole-conduction systems. In particular, the location of the charge density in the radical anions of quinoxalinoporphyrins can be modulated by peripheral functionalization. New theoretical treatments of electrochemical potentials are developed that identify the site of reduction in both the anions and the dianions of 33 quinoxalinoporphyrins. These molecules include free-base and metallated macrocycles substituted on the quinoxaline with electron-withdrawing groups (NO2, Cl, Br) and/or electron-donating groups (NH2, OCH3). Spectroelectrochemistry, density-functional theory calculations, and substituent-parameter models are used to verify the analysis. Five distinct patterns are observed for the locations of the first and second reductions; some of these patterns involve delocalized charges. Nitroquinoxalinoporphyrins with the nitro groups at the 5- and 6-quinoxaline positions are found to have quite different properties owing to distortions caused by peri interactions that force the nitro group of the 5-nitro regioisomer out of conjugation. Charge localization on the nitroquinoxaline fragment is found for some molecules, and this is attributed to ion-pairing with the 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate electrolyte used, leading to the verified prediction that electron-paramagnetic resonance spectra of these molecules taken without the electrolyte yield delocalized anions. These properties enable the control of conduction through molecular wires synthesised from quinoxalinoporphyrins.

Effect of axial ligands and macrocyclic structure on redox potentials and electron-transfer mechanisms of SnIV porphyrins.

The electrochemical properties of dichloro- and dihydroxo-SnIV porphyrins with three different macrocycles were examined in CH2Cl2 containing 0.1 or 0.2 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte. The investigated compounds are represented as (TPP)SnX2, (P)Sn(X)2, and (PQ)Sn(X)2, where TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, P = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin, PQ = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)quinoxalino[2,3-b']porphyrin, and X = Cl or OH. Each porphyrin can be electroreduced in two one-electron-transfer steps with the half-wave potentials and stability of the eletroreduced compounds being dependent upon the type of coordinated axial ligand and specific macrocyclic structure. All reductions of (TPP)Sn(OH)2, (P)Sn(OH)2, and (PQ)Sn(OH)2 are reversible under the given experimental conditions and lead to the expected porphyrin pi-anion radicals and dianions, which were characterized by thin-layer UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry. This contrasts with what occurs upon the reduction of (PQ)SnCl2, which undergoes a chemical reaction with trace H2O in solution, leading to the formation of (PQ)Sn(OH)2 as well as to a protonated form of the quinoxalinoporphyrin, (PQH)Sn(OH)2, under the application of an applied potential. A protonation of the Q group breaks the conjugation between the fused quinoxaline unit and the porphyrin macrocycle, thus effectively giving a compound whose reduction properties resemble that of the metalloporphyrin in the absence of the fused ring. The electrooxidation of each neutral SnIV porphyrin was also investigated, and the effect of axial ligand and fused quinoxaline ring on the redox potentials and products of electron transfer are discussed.

Porphyrin-diones and porphyrin-tetraones: reversible redox units being localized within the porphyrin macrocycle and their effect on tautomerism.

Porphyrin-2,3-diones and porphyrin-2,3,7,8- and porphyrin-2,3,12,13-tetraones were shown to have a redox-active unit that can function independently of the macrocycle at large. Electroreduction of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin-2,3-diones [(P-dione)M] and the corresponding -2,3,12,13-tetraones [L-(P-tetraone)M] and -2,3,7,8-tetraones [C-(P-tetraone)M], where M = 2H, CuII, ZnII, NiII, and PdII was investigated and the products were characterized by ESR and thin-layer UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical data show that the first two reductions of the porphyrin-diones and the first three reductions of the porphyrin-tetraones occur at the dione units. This was confirmed by ESR spectra of first reduction products which show that the electron spin is totally localized on a semidione unit, independent of the central metal ion and of the number and location of dione units. ESR spectra of the radical anions derived from free-base porphyrin-2,3-dione [(P-dione)2H] and porphyrin-2,3,12,13-tetraone [L-(P-tetraone)2H] confirm the trans-arrangement of the two inner protons and their location on nonsubstituted pyrrolic rings, thereby maintaining an 18-atom 18-pi electron bacteriochlorin-like aromatic delocalization pathway. The redox unit is not similarly isolated in the corner free-base porphyrin-2,3,7,8-tetraone [C-(P-tetraone)2H]. A one-electron reduction of C-(P-tetraone)2H leads to the formation of a tautomer with trans inner hydrogens with one residing on the N of the ring with the reduced unit as the only detectable product. This process is favorable because it creates a more delocalized 18-atom 18-pi electron aromatic pathway. This result is consistent with the measured redox potentials which show the first reduction of C-(P-tetraone)2H to be substantially easier than (P-dione)2H or L-(P-tetraone)2H.

Chemical models for aspects of the photosynthetic reaction centre: synthesis and photophysical properties of tris- and tetrakis-porphyrins that resemble the arrangement of chromophores in the natural system.

Tris-porphyrin and tetrakis-porphyrin arrays 1 and 2 are proposed as models for the arrangement of the chromophores that constitute photosynthetic reaction centres (PRC's). Their porphyrinic chromophores are similar in distance apart to the key chromophores of PRC's and the C2 symmetric arrangement of the macrocycles that constitute the 'special pair' where charge separation occurs is also incorporated. The use of zinc(II) and gold(III) chelation establishes an energy gradient for photoinduced electron transfer across each compound. Synthesis was achieved in good yields through a strategy that used the construction of biquinoxalinyl and Tröger's base linkages between the porphyrinoid components. Compounds which are bis-porphyrin molecular components of the arrays were also synthesised. Photophysical analyses indicate that long-range photoinduced energy and electron transfer processes occur in the extended arrays in addition to those occurring in the component bis-porphyrins. Evidence for step-wise electron transfer between terminal zinc(II)-chelated and gold(III)-chelated porphyrins has been detected in both porphyrins 1 and 2 in polar solvents, representing charge transfer across 35 A and 50 A, respectively. At 298 K, in deaerated benzonitrile, the lifetime of the charge transfer state of the tris-porphyrin 1 is 150 ns and the lifetime of the charge transfer state of tetrakis-porphyrin 2 is 59.4 micros; very long when compared to simpler chemical model systems, but still much shorter than the 1 s lifetime of the charge separated state of natural PRC's in cell membranes.

Synthesis and physical properties of biquinoxalinyl bridged bis-porphyrins: models for aspects of photosynthetic reaction centres.

The synthesis of biquinoxalinyl-bridged bis-porphyrin 4 and metallated derivatives 5-11 was achieved in high yields. UV-visible spectroscopy and electrochemical experiments indicated weak orbital coupling of the two quinoxalinyl units but minimal orbital coupling between the two porphyrins. The weak electronic communication is attributed to non-planarity, on average, of the molecule because of rotation about the inter-quinoxalinyl connection. This, combined with poor coupling across the fused junctions between the porphyrin and quinoxalinyl units, results in minimal inter-porphyrin communication. As a result, the biquinoxalinyl linkage is appropriate for inclusion in more elaborate synthetic compounds, such as the tris-porphyrin 1, that are designed to model the charge-separation apparatus of Photosynthetic Reaction Centres.

Metal-centered photoinduced electron transfer reduction of a gold(III) porphyrin cation linked with a zinc porphyrin to produce a long-lived charge-separated state in nonpolar solvents.

Photoexcitation of an electron donor-acceptor linked dyad containing gold(III) and zinc(II) porphyrins (ZnPQ-AuIIIPQ+) results in electron transfer from the singlet excited state of ZnPQ to the metal center of AuPQ+ to produce the charge-separated state (ZnPQ*+-AuIIPQ) which has a long lifetime (10 mus) in nonpolar solvents such as cyclohexane and toluene.

Substituent effects on the site of electron transfer during the first reduction for gold(III) porphyrins.

Gold(III) porphyrins of the type (P-R)AuPF(6), where P = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin and R is equal to H (1), NO(2) (2), or NH(2) (3) which is substituted at one of the eight beta-pyrrolic positions of the macrocycle, were investigated as to their electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in nonaqueous media. Each compound undergoes three reductions, the first of which involves the central metal ion to give a Au(II) porphyrin or a Au(III) porphyrin pi-anion radical depending upon the nature of the porphyrin ring substituent. A similar metal-centered reduction also occurs for compounds 1, 3, and Au(III) quinoxalinoporphyrin, (PQ)AuPF(6) (4), where PQ = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)quinoxalino[2,3-b]porphyrin, and these results on the three Au(III) porphyrins overturn the long held assumption that reductions of such complexes only occur at the macrocycle. In contrast, when a NO(2) group is introduced on the porphyrin ring to give (P-NO(2))AuPF(6) (2), the site of electron transfer is changed from the gold metal to the macrocycle to give a porphyrin pi-anion radical in the first reduction step. This change in the site of electron transfer was examined by electrochemistry combined with thin-layer UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry and ESR spectroscopy of the singly reduced compound produced by chemical reduction. The reorganization energy (lambda) of the metal-centered electron transfer reduction for (P-H)AuPF(6) (1) in benzonitrile was determined as lambda = 1.23 eV by analyzing the rates of photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet excited states of an organic electron donor to 1 in light of the Marcus theory of electron transfer. The lambda value of the metal-centered electron transfer of gold porphyrin (1) is significantly larger than lambda values of ligand-centered electron transfer reactions of metalloporphyrins.