Synthetic strategy yields large porphyrin arrays in one step

Abstract

Chemists in New Zealand have developed a building-block strategy for constructing large porphyrin arrays from porphyrin monomers in one step. The methodology could eventually lead to the design and construction of photovoltaic cells that use large arrays of synthetic porphyrins. Senior lecturer in organic chemistry David L. Officer, lecturer in inorganic chemistry Anthony K. Burrell, and doctoral student David C. W. Reid at Massey University, Palmerston North, have used the strategy for the one-step construction of porphyrin pentamers and a nonamer [ Chem. Commun. , 1996, 1657]. Porphyrin molecules, composed of four pyrrole rings, have near-planar structures. These macrocyclic compounds are usually found in nature in the form of metal complexes. For example, the chlorophylls—the green pigments used by plants in photosynthesis—are magnesium porphyrin complexes. Plant cells use photosynthetic antenna arrays of up to 300 chlorophyll molecules for harvesting light. A photovoltaic cell could be envisioned as ...