Extension of nature's NIR-I chromophore into the NIR-II region.

The development of chromophores that absorb in the near-infrared (NIR) region beyond 1000 nm underpins numerous applications in medical and energy sciences, yet also presents substantial challenges to molecular design and chemical synthesis. Here, the core bacteriochlorin chromophore of nature's NIR absorbers, bacteriochlorophylls, has been adapted and tailored by annulation in an effort to achieve absorption in the NIR-II region. The resulting bacteriochlorin, Phen2,1-BC, contains two annulated naphthalene groups spanning meso,ß-positions of the bacteriochlorin and the 1,2-positions of the naphthalene. Phen2,1-BC was prepared via a new synthetic route. Phen2,1-BC is an isomer of previously examined Phen-BC, which differs only in attachment via the 1,8-positions of the naphthalene. Despite identical π-systems, the two bacteriochlorins have distinct spectroscopic and photophysical features. Phen-BC has long-wavelength absorption maximum (912 nm), oscillator strength (1.0), and S1 excited-state lifetime (150 ps) much different than Phen2,1-BC (1292 nm, 0.23, and 0.4 ps, respectively). These two molecules and an analogue with intermediate characteristics bearing annulated phenyl rings have unexpected properties relative to those of non-annulated counterparts. Understanding the distinctions requires extending concepts beyond the four-orbital-model description of tetrapyrrole spectroscopic features. In particular, a reduction in symmetry resulting from annulation results in electronic mixing of x- and y-polarized transitions/states, as well as vibronic coupling that together reduce oscillator strength of the long-wavelength absorption manifold and shorten the S1 excited-state lifetime. Collectively, the results suggest a heuristic for the molecular design of tetrapyrrole chromophores for deep penetration into the relatively unutilized NIR-II region.

Dyads with tunable near-infrared donor-acceptor excited-state energy gaps: molecular design and Förster analysis for ultrafast energy transfer.

Bacteriochlorophylls, nature's near-infrared absorbers, play an essential role in energy transfer in photosynthetic antennas and reaction centers. To probe energy-transfer processes akin to those in photosynthetic systems, nine synthetic bacteriochlorin-bacteriochlorin dyads have been prepared wherein the constituent pigments are joined at the meso-positions by a phenylethyne linker. The phenylethyne linker is an unsymmetric auxochrome, which differentially shifts the excited-state energies of the phenyl- or ethynyl-attached bacteriochlorin constituents in the dyad. Molecular designs utilized known effects of macrocycle substituents to engineer bacteriochlorins with S0 → S1 (Qy) transitions spanning 725-788 nm. The design-predicted donor-acceptor excited-state energy gaps in the dyads agree well with those obtained from time dependent density functional theory calculations and with the measured range of 197-1089 cm-1. Similar trends with donor-acceptor excited-state energy gaps are found for (1) the measured ultrafast energy-transfer rates of (0.3-1.7 ps)-1, (2) the spectral overlap integral (J) in Förster energy-transfer theory, and (3) donor-acceptor electronic mixing manifested in the natural transition orbitals for the S0 → S1 transition. Subtle outcomes include the near orthogonal orientation of the π-planes of the bacteriochlorin macrocycles, and the substituent-induced shift in transition-dipole moment from the typical coincidence with the NH-NH axis; the two features together afforded the Förster orientation term κ2 ranging from 0.55-1.53 across the nine dyads, a value supportive of efficient excited-state energy transfer. The molecular design and collective insights on the dyads are valuable for studies relevant to artificial photosynthesis and other processes requiring ultrafast energy transfer.

Investigation of a bacteriochlorin-containing pentad array for panchromatic light-harvesting and charge separation.

A new pentad array designed to exhibit panchromatic absorption and charge separation has been synthesized and characterized. The array is composed of a triad panchromatic absorber (a bis(perylene-monoimide)-porphyrin) to which are appended an electron acceptor (perylene-diimide) and an electron donor/hole acceptor (bacteriochlorin) in a crossbar arrangement. The motivation for incorporation of the bacteriochlorin versus a free-base or zinc chlorin utilized in prior constructs was to facilitate hole transfer to this terminal unit and thereby achieve a higher yield of charge separation across the array. The intense S0 → S1 (Qy) band of the bacteriochlorin also enhances absorption in the near-infrared spectral region. Due to synthetic constraints, a phenylethyne linker was used to join the bacteriochlorin to the core porphyrin of the panchromatic triad rather than the diphenylethyne linker employed for the prior chlorin-containing pentads. Static and time-resolved photophysical studies reveal enhanced excited-state quenching for the pentad in benzonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide compared to the prior chlorin-containing analogues. Success was only partial, however, as a long-lived charge separated state was not observed despite the improved energetics for the final ground-state hole/electron-shift reaction. The apparent reason is more facile competing charge-recombination due to the shorter bacteriochlorin - porphyrin linker that increases electronic coupling for this process. The studies highlight design criteria for balancing panchromatic absorption and long-lived charge separation in molecular architectures for solar-energy conversion.

Balancing Panchromatic Absorption and Multistep Charge Separation in a Compact Molecular Architecture.

A panchromatic triad and a charge-separation unit are joined in a crossbar architecture to capture solar energy. The panchromatic-absorber triad (T) is comprised of a central free-base porphyrin that is strongly coupled via direct ethyne linkages to two perylene-monoimide (PMI) groups. The charge-separation unit incorporates a free-base or zinc chlorin (C or ZnC) as a hole acceptor (or electron donor) and a perylene-diimide (PDI) as an electron acceptor, both attached to the porphyrin via diphenylethyne linkers. The free-base porphyrin is common to both light-harvesting and charge-separation motifs. The chlorin and PDI also function as ancillary light absorbers, complementing direct excitation of the panchromatic triad to produce the discrete lowest excited state of the array (T*). Attainment of full charge separation across the pentad entails two steps: (1) an initial excited-state hole/electron-transfer process to oxidize the chlorin (and reduce the panchromatic triad) or reduce the PDI (and oxidize the panchromatic triad); and (2) subsequent ground-state electron/hole migration to produce oxidized chlorin and reduced PDI. Full charge separation for pentad ZnC-T-PDI to generate ZnC+-T-PDI- occurs with a quantum yield of ∼30% and mean lifetime ∼1 µs in dimethyl sulfoxide. For C-T-PDI, initial charge separation is followed by rapid charge recombination. The molecular designs and studies reported here reveal the challenges of balancing the demands for charge separation (linker length and composition, excited-state energies, redox potentials, and medium polarity) with the constraints for panchromatic absorption (strong electronic coupling of the porphyrin and two PMI units) for integrated function in solar-energy conversion.

Probing the Effects of Electronic-Vibrational Resonance on the Rate of Excited-State Energy Transfer in Bacteriochlorin Dyads.

The impact of vibrational-electronic resonances on the rate of excited-state energy transfer is examined in a set of bacteriochlorin dyads that employ the same phenylethyne linker. The donor/acceptor excited-state energy gap is tuned from ∼200 to ∼1100 cm-1 using peripheral substituents on the donor and acceptor bacteriochlorin macrocycles. Ultrafast energy transfer is observed with rate constants of (0.3 ps)-1 to (1.7 ps)-1, which agree with those predicted by Förster theory to within a factor of 2. Furthermore, the measured rates follow a trend-line with only small deviations that do not correlate with the density of vibrations at the donor/acceptor excited-state energy gap. Thus, if vibrational-electronic resonances occur in any of these dyads, which seems likely, the impact on the rate of energy transfer is small.

Photophysical Properties and Electronic Structure of Hydroporphyrin Dyads Exhibiting Strong Through-Space and Through-Bond Electronic Interactions.

Electronic interactions between tetrapyrroles are utilized in natural photosynthetic systems to tune the light-harvesting and energy-/charge-transfer processes in these assemblies. Such interactions also can be employed to tailor the electronic properties of tetrapyrrolic dyads and larger arrays for use in materials science and biomedical research. Here, we have utilized static and time-resolved optical spectroscopy to characterize the optical absorption and emission properties of a set of chlorin and bacteriochlorin dyads with varying degrees of through-bond (TB) and through-space (TS) interactions between the constituent macrocycles. The dyads consist of two chlorins or two bacteriochlorins joined by a linker that utilizes a triple-double-triple-bond (enediyne) motif in which the double-bond portion is an ester-substituted ethylene or o-phenylene unit. The photophysical studies are coupled with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to probe the ground-state molecular orbital (MO) characteristics of the dyads and time-dependent DFT calculations (TDDFT) to elucidate excited-state properties. The latter include electronic characteristics of the singlet excited-state manifold and the absorption transitions to these states from the electronic ground state. A comparison of the MO and calculated spectral properties of each dyad with the linker present versus disrupted (by eliminating the double-bond portion) gives insight into the relative contributions of TB versus TS interactions to the electronic properties of the dyads. The results show that the TB and TS contributions are additive (constructively interfere), which is not always the case for molecular dyads. Most of the dyads have shorter lifetimes of the lowest singlet excited state compared to the parent monomer, which derives from increased S1 → S0 internal conversion. The enhancement is greater for the dyads in benzonitrile than in toluene. The studies provide insights into the nature of the electronic interactions between the constituents in the tetrapyrrole arrays and how these interactions dictate the spectral properties and excited-state decay characteristics.

A perspective on the redox properties of tetrapyrrole macrocycles.

Tetrapyrrole macrocycles serve a multitude of roles in biological systems, including oxygen transport by heme and light harvesting and charge separation by chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls. Synthetic tetrapyrroles are utilized in diverse applications ranging from solar-energy conversion to photomedicine. Nevertheless, students beginning tetrapyrrole research, as well as established practitioners, are often puzzled when comparing properties of related tetrapyrroles. Questions arise as to why optical spectra of two tetrapyrroles often shift in wavelength/energy in a direction opposite to that predicted by common chemical intuition based on the size of a π-electron system. Gouterman's four-orbital model provides a framework for understanding these optical properties. Similarly, it can be puzzling as to why the oxidation potentials differ significantly when comparing two related tetrapyrroles, yet the reduction potentials change very little or shift in the opposite direction. In order to understand these redox properties, it must be recognized that structural/electronic alterations affect the four frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO, LUMO, HOMO-1 and LUMO+1) unequally and in many cases the LUMO+1, and not the LUMO, may track the HOMO in energy. This perspective presents a fundamental framework concerning tetrapyrrole electronic properties that should provide a foundation for rational molecular design in tetrapyrrole science.

Electronic Structure and Excited-State Dynamics of Rylene-Tetrapyrrole Panchromatic Absorbers.

Panchromatic absorbers have potential applications in molecular-based energy-conversion schemes. A prior porphyrin-perylene dyad (P-PMI, where "MI" denotes monoimide) coupled via an ethyne linker exhibits panchromatic absorption (350-700 nm) and a tetrapyrrole-like lowest singlet excited state with a relatively long singlet excited-state lifetime (τS) and increased fluorescence quantum yield (Φf) versus the parent porphyrin. To explore the extension of panchromaticity to longer wavelengths, three arrays have been synthesized: a chlorin-terrylene dyad (C-TMI), a bacteriochlorin-terrylene dyad (B-TMI), and a perylene-porphyrin-terrylene triad (PMI-P-TMI), where the terrylene, a π-extended homologue of perylene, is attached via an ethyne linker. Characterization of the spectra (absorption and fluorescence), excited-state properties (lifetime, yields, and rate constants of decay pathways), and molecular-orbital characteristics reveals unexpected subtleties. The wavelength of the red-region absorption band increases in the order C-TMI (705 nm) < PMI-P-TMI (749 nm) < B-TMI (774 nm), yet each array exhibits diminished Φf and shortened τS values. The PMI-P-TMI triad in toluene exhibits Φf = 0.038 and τS = 139 ps versus the all-perylene triad (PMI-P-PMI) for which Φf = 0.26 and τS = 2000 ps. The results highlight design constraints for auxiliary pigments with tetrapyrroles to achieve panchromatic absorption with retention of viable excited-state properties.

Photophysical Properties and Electronic Structure of Zinc(II) Porphyrins Bearing 0-4 meso-Phenyl Substituents: Zinc Porphine to Zinc Tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP).

Six zinc(II) porphyrins bearing 0-4 meso-phenyl substituents have been examined spectroscopically and theoretically. Comparisons with previously examined free base analogues afford a deep understanding of the electronic and photophysical effects of systematic addition of phenyl groups in porphyrins containing a central zinc(II) ion versus two hydrogen atoms. Trends in the wavelengths and relative intensities of the absorption bands are generally consistent with predictions from time-dependent density functional theory calculations and simulations from Gouterman's four-orbital model. These trends derive from a preferential effect of the meso-phenyl groups to raise the energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital. The calculations reveal additional insights, such as a progressive increase in oscillator strength in the violet-red (B-Q) absorption manifold with increasing number of phenyls. Progressive addition of 0-4 phenyl substituents to the zinc porphyrins in O2-free toluene engenders a reduction in the measured lifetime of the lowest singlet excited state (2.5-2.1 ns), an increase in the S1 → S0 fluorescence yield (0.022-0.030), a decrease in the yield of S1 → T1 intersystem crossing (0.93-0.88), and an increase in the yield of S1 → S0 internal conversion (0.048-0.090). The derived rate constants for S1 decay reveal significant differences in the photophysical properties of the zinc chelates versus free base forms. The unexpected finding of a larger rate constant for internal conversion for zinc chelates versus free bases is particularly exemplary. Collectively, the findings afford fundamental insights into the photophysical properties and electronic structure of meso-phenylporphyrins, which are widely used as benchmarks for tetrapyrrole-based architectures in solar energy and life sciences research.

Origin of Panchromaticity in Multichromophore-Tetrapyrrole Arrays.

Panchromatic absorbers that have robust photophysical properties enable new designs for molecular-based light-harvesting systems. Herein, we report experimental and theoretical studies of the spectral, redox, and excited-state properties of a series of perylene-monoimide-ethyne-porphyrin arrays wherein the number of perylene-monoimide units is stepped from one to four. In the arrays, a profound shift of absorption intensity from the strong violet-blue (B y and B x) bands of typical porphyrins into the green, red, and near-infrared (Q x and Q y) regions stems from mixing of chromophore and tetrapyrrole molecular orbitals (MOs), which gives multiplets of MOs having electron density spread over the entire array. This reduces the extensive mixing between porphyrin excited-state configurations and the transition-dipole addition and subtraction that normally leads to intense B and weak Q bands. Reduced configurational mixing derives from moderate effects of the ethyne and perylene on the MO energies and a more substantial effect of electron-density delocalization to reduce the configuration-interaction energy. Quantitative oscillator-strength analysis shows that porphyrin intensity is also shifted into the perylene-like green-region absorption and that the ethyne linkers lend absorption intensity. The reduced porphyrin configurational mixing also endows the S1 state with bacteriochlorin-like properties, including a 1-5 ns lifetime.

Tailoring Panchromatic Absorption and Excited-State Dynamics of Tetrapyrrole-Chromophore (Bodipy, Rylene) Arrays-Interplay of Orbital Mixing and Configuration Interaction.

Three sets of tetrapyrrole-chromophore arrays have been examined that exhibit panchromatic absorption across large portions of the near-ultraviolet (NUV) to near-infrared (NIR) spectrum along with favorable excited-state properties for use in solar-energy conversion. The arrays vary the tetrapyrrole (porphyrin, chlorin, bacteriochlorin), chromophore (boron-dipyrrin, perylene, terrylene), and attachment sites (meso-position, ß-pyrrole position). In all, seven dyads, one triad, and nine benchmarks in toluene and benzonitrile were studied using steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results were analyzed with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations. Natural transition orbitals (NTOs) were constructed to assess the net change in electron density associated with each NUV-NIR absorption transition. The porphyrin-perylene dyad P-PMI displays the most even spectral coverage from 400 to 700 nm, with an average ε ∼ 43 000 M-1 cm-1. A significant contributor is a chromophore-induced reduction in the configuration interaction involving the four frontier molecular orbitals of benchmark porphyrins and associated constructive/destructive transition-dipole interference that results in intense (ε ∼ 400 000 M-1 cm-1) NUV and weak (<20 000 M-1 cm-1) visible features. P-PMI has an S1 lifetime (τS) of 4.7 ns in toluene and 1.3 ns in benzonitrile. Bacteriochlorin analogue BC-PMI has more extended spectral coverage (350-750 nm) and τS = 2.8 ns in toluene and 30 ps in benzonitrile. Terrylene analogue P-TMI has intermediate optical characteristics with τS = 310 ps in toluene and 150 ps in benzonitrile. The NTOs for most arrays show that S0 → S1 primarily involves the tetrapyrrole, but for P-TMI the NTOs have electron density delocalized over the two units as a result of extensive orbital mixing. Collectively, the insights obtained should aid the design of tetrapyrrole-based architectures for panchromatic light-harvesting systems for solar-energy conversion.

Photophysical Properties and Electronic Structure of Porphyrins Bearing Zero to Four meso-Phenyl Substituents: New Insights into Seemingly Well Understood Tetrapyrroles.

Six free base porphyrins bearing 0-4 meso substituents have been examined by steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in both toluene and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The lifetime of the lowest singlet excited state (S1) decreases with an increase in the number of meso-phenyl groups; the values in toluene are H2P-0 (15.5 ns) > H2P-1 (14.9 ns) > H2P-2c (14.4 ns) > H2P-2t (13.8 ns) ∼ H2P-3 (13.8 ns) > H2P-4 (12.8 ns), where "H2P" refers to the core free base porphyrin, the numerical suffix indicates the number of meso-phenyl groups, and "c" and "t" refer to cis and trans, respectively. The opposite trend is found for the fluorescence quantum yield; the values in toluene are H2P-0 (0.049) < H2P-1 (0.063) ∼ H2P-2c (0.063) < H2P-2t (0.071) < H2P-3 (0.073) < H2P-4 (0.090). Similar trends occur in DMF. All radiative and nonradiative (internal conversion and intersystem crossing) rate constants for S1 decay increase with the increasing number of meso-phenyl groups. The increase in the rate constant for fluorescence parallels an increase in oscillator strength of the S0 → S1 absorption manifold. The trend is reproduced by time-dependent density functional theory calculations. The calculations within the context of the four-orbital model reveal that the enhanced S0 ↔ S1 radiative probabilities derive from a preferential effect of the meso-phenyl groups to raise the energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital, which underpins a parallel bathochromic shift in the S0 → S1 absorption wavelength. Polarizations of the S1 and S2 excited states with respect to molecular structural features (e.g., the central proton axis) are analyzed in the context of historical conventions for porphyrins versus chlorins and bacteriochlorins, where some ambiguity exists, including for porphine, one of the simplest tetrapyrroles. Collectively, the study affords fundamental insights into the photophysical properties and electronic structure of meso-phenylporphyrins that should aid their continued widespread use as benchmarks for tetrapyrrole-based architectures in chemical, solar-energy, and life-sciences research.

Tuning the Electronic Structure and Properties of Perylene-Porphyrin-Perylene Panchromatic Absorbers.

Light-harvesting architectures that afford strong absorption across the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared region, namely, panchromatic absorptivity, are potentially valuable for capturing the broad spectral distribution of sunlight. One previously reported triad consisting of two perylene monoimides strongly coupled to a free base porphyrin via ethyne linkers (FbT) shows panchromatic absorption together with a porphyrin-like S1 excited state albeit at lower energy than that of a typical monomeric porphyrin. Here, two new porphyrin-bis(perylene) triads have been prepared wherein the porphyrin bears two pentafluorophenyl substituents. The porphyrin is in the free base (FbT-F) or zinc chelate (ZnT-F) forms. The zinc chelate (ZnT) of the original triad bearing nonfluorinated aryl rings also was prepared. The triads were characterized using static and time-resolved optical spectroscopy. The results were analyzed with the aid of molecular-orbital characteristics obtained using density functional theory calculations. Of the four triads, FbT is the most panchromatic in affording the most even distribution of absorption spectral intensity as well as exhibiting the largest wavelength span (380-750 nm). The triads exhibit fluorescence yields (0.35 for FbT-F in toluene) that are substantially greater than for the porphyrin benchmarks (0.049 for FbP-F). The singlet excited-state lifetimes (τS) for the triads in toluene decrease in the order FbT-F (2.7 ns) > FbT (2.0 ns) > ZnT (1.2 ns) ∼ ZnT-F (1.1 ns). The τS values in benzonitrile are FbT (1.3 ns) > FbT-F (1.2 ns) > ZnT-F (0.6 ns) > ZnT (0.2 ns). Thus, the free base triads exhibit relatively long (1.2-2.7 ns) excited-state lifetimes in both polar and nonpolar media. The combined photophysical characteristics indicate that FbT and FbT-F are the best choices for panchromatic light-harvesting systems. Collectively, the findings afford insights into the effects of electronic structure on the panchromatic behavior of ethynyl-linked porphyrin-perylene architectures that can help guide next-generation designs and utilization of these systems.

Effects of Strong Electronic Coupling in Chlorin and Bacteriochlorin Dyads.

Achieving tunable, intense near-infrared absorption in molecular architectures with properties suitable for solar light harvesting and biomedical studies is of fundamental interest. Herein, we report the photophysical, redox, and molecular-orbital characteristics of nine hydroporphyrin dyads and associated benchmark monomers that have been designed and synthesized to attain enhanced light harvesting. Each dyad contains two identical hydroporphyrins (chlorin or bacteriochlorin) connected by a linker (ethynyl or butadiynyl) at the macrocycle ß-pyrrole (3- or 13-) or meso (15-) positions. The strong electronic communication between constituent chromophores is indicated by the doubling of prominent absorption features, split redox waves, and paired linear combinations of frontier molecular orbitals. Relative to the benchmarks, the chlorin dyads in toluene show substantial bathochromic shifts of the long-wavelength absorption band (17-31 nm), modestly reduced singlet excited-state lifetimes (τS = 3.6-6.2 ns vs 8.8-12.3 ns), and increased fluorescence quantum yields (Φf = 0.37-0.57 vs 0.34-0.39). The bacteriochlorin dyads in toluene show significant bathochromic shifts (25-57 nm) and modestly reduced τS (1.6-3.4 ns vs 3.5-5.3 ns) and Φf (0.09-0.19 vs 0.17-0.21) values. The τS and Φf values for the bacteriochlorin dyads are reduced substantially (up to ∼20-fold) in benzonitrile. The quenching is due primarily to the increased S1 → S0 internal conversion that is likely induced by increased contribution of charge-resonance configurations to the S1 excited state in the polar medium. The fundamental insights gained into the physicochemical properties of the strongly coupled hydroporphyrin dyads may aid their utilization in solar-energy conversion and photomedicine.

Integration of Cyanine, Merocyanine and Styryl Dye Motifs with Synthetic Bacteriochlorins.

Understanding the effects of substituents on spectral properties is essential for the rational design of tailored bacteriochlorins for light-harvesting and other applications. Toward this goal, three new bacteriochlorins containing previously unexplored conjugating substituents have been prepared and characterized. The conjugating substituents include two positively charged species, 2-(N-ethyl 2-quinolinium)vinyl- (B-1) and 2-(N-ethyl 4-pyridinium)vinyl- (B-2), and a neutral group, acroleinyl- (B-3); the charged species resemble cyanine (or styryl) dye motifs whereas the neutral unit resembles a merocyanine dye motif. The three bacteriochlorins are examined by static and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy and density functional theoretical calculations. B-1 and B-2 have Qy absorption bathochromically shifted well into the NIR region (822 and 852 nm), farther than B-3 (793 nm) and other 3,13-disubstituted bacteriochlorins studied previously. B-1 and B-2 have broad Qy absorption and fluorescence features with large peak separation (Stokes shift), low fluorescence yields, and shortened S1 (Qy ) excited-state lifetimes (~700 ps and ~100 ps). More typical spectra and S1 lifetime (~2.3 ns) are found for B-3. The combined photophysical and molecular-orbital characteristics suggest the altered spectra and enhanced nonradiative S1 decay of B-1 and B-2 derive from excited-state configurations in which electron density is shifted between the macrocycle and the substituents.

Extending the short and long wavelength limits of bacteriochlorin near-infrared absorption via dioxo- and bisimide-functionalization.

Six new bacteriochlorins expanding the range of the strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption (Qy band) to both shorter and longer wavelengths (∼690 to ∼900 nm) have been synthesized and characterized. The architectures include bacteriochlorin-bisimides that have six-membered imide rings spanning the 3,5- and 13,15-macrocycle positions or five-membered imide rings spanning the ß-pyrrolic 2,3- and 12,13-positions. Both bisimide types absorb at significantly longer wavelength than the bacteriochlorin precursors (no fused rings), whereas oxo-groups at the 7- or 7,17-positions shift the Qy band to a new short wavelength limit. Surprisingly, bacteriochlorin-bisimides with five-membered ß-pyrrolic-centered imide rings have a Qy band closer to that of six-membered bacteriochlorin-monoimides. However, the five-membered bisimides (versus the six-membered bacteriochlorin-monoimides) have significantly enhanced absorption intensity that is paralleled by an ∼2-fold higher fluorescence yield (∼0.16 vs ∼0.07) and longer singlet excited-state lifetime (∼4 ns vs ∼2 ns). The photophysical enhancements derive in part from mixing of the lowest unoccupied frontier molecular orbitals of the five-membered imide ring with those of the bacteriochlorin framework. In general, all of the new bacteriochlorins have excited-state lifetimes (1-4 ns) that are sufficiently long for use in molecular-based systems for photochemical applications.

Photophysical Properties and Electronic Structure of Chlorin-Imides: Bridging the Gap between Chlorins and Bacteriochlorins.

Efficient light harvesting for molecular-based solar-conversion systems requires absorbers that span the photon-rich red and near-infrared (NIR) regions of the solar spectrum. Reported herein are the photophysical properties of a set of six chlorin-imides and nine synthetic chlorin analogues that extend the absorption deeper (624-714 nm) into these key spectral regions. These absorbers help bridge the gap between typical chlorins and bacteriochlorins. The new compounds have high fluorescence quantum yields (0.15-0.34) and long singlet excited-state lifetimes (4.2-10.9 ns). The bathochromic shift in Qy absorption is driven by substituent-based stabilization of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, with the largest shifts for chlorins that bear an electron-withdrawing, conjugative group at the 3-position in combination with a 13,15-imide ring.

Effects of substituents on synthetic analogs of chlorophylls. Part 4: How formyl group location dictates the spectral properties of chlorophylls b, d and f.

Photosynthetic organisms are adapted to light characteristics in their habitat in part via the spectral characteristics of the associated chlorophyll pigments, which differ in the position of a formyl group around the chlorin macrocycle (chlorophylls b, d, f) or no formyl group (chlorophyll a). To probe the origin of this spectral tuning, the photophysical and electronic structural properties of a new set of synthetic chlorins are reported. The zinc and free base chlorins have a formyl group at either the 2- or 3-position. The four compounds have fluorescence yields in the range 0.19-0.28 and singlet excited-state lifetimes of ca 4 ns for zinc chelates and ca 8 ns for the free base forms. The photophysical properties of the 2- and 3-formyl zinc chlorins are similar to those observed previously for 13-formyl or 3,13-diformyl chlorins, but differ markedly from those for 7-formyl analogs. Molecular-orbital characteristics obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used as input to spectral simulations employing the four-orbital model. The analysis has uncovered the key changes in electronic structure engendered by the presence/location of a formyl group at various macrocycle positions, which is relevant to understanding the distinct spectral properties of the natural chlorophylls a, b, d and f.

Panchromatic absorbers for solar light-harvesting.

A set of panchromatic absorbers exhibiting long excited-state lifetimes in both polar and nonpolar media has been prepared. The architectures are based on a porphyrin strongly coupled electronically to 1-4 perylene-monoimides via ethyne linkers. The constructs should find utility in molecular solar-conversion systems.

Vibronic Characteristics and Spin-Density Distributions in Bacteriochlorins as Revealed by Spectroscopic Studies of 16 Isotopologues. Implications for Energy- and Electron-Transfer in Natural Photosynthesis and Artificial Solar-Energy Conversion.

Vibronic characteristics and spin-density distributions in the core bacteriochlorin macrocycle were revealed by spectroscopic and theoretical studies of 16 isotopologues. The vibrational modes in copper bacteriochlorin isotopologues were examined via resonance Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The resonance Raman spectra exhibit an exceptional sparcity of vibronically active modes of the core macrocycle, in contrast with the rich spectra of the natural bacteriochlorophylls. The Qy-excitation resonance Raman spectrum is dominated by a single mode at 727 cm-1, which calculations suggest is due to a symmetrical accordion-like deformation of the five-atom Cm(CaNCa)pyrroleCm portion of the ring core. This deformation also dominates the vibronic features in the absorption and fluorescence spectra. The spin-density distributions in the π-cation radical of the zinc bacteriochlorin isotopologues were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spectra indicate a significant electron/spin density (ρ ∼ 0.1) on each meso-carbon atom. This observation contradicts the predictions of early calculations that have been assumed to be correct for nearly four decades. Collectively, these findings have implications for how the structural features that characterize natural bacteriochlorophylls might influence energy- and electron-transfer processes in photosynthesis and alter the thinking on the design of synthetic, bacteriochlorin-based arrays for solar-energy conversion.