Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna Research Articles

Pd-Catalyzed Cross Coupling Strategy for Functional Porphyrin Arrays.

Porphyrin arrays are an important class of compounds to study interporphyrin electronic interactions that are crucial in determining the rates of energy transfer and electron transfer reactions. When the electronic interactions become stronger, porphyrin arrays exhibit significantly altered optical and electronic properties owing to large oscillator strength and flexible electronic nature of porphyrins. In addition, porphyrins accept various metal cation in their cavities and the interporphyrin interactions depend upon the coordinated metal. With these in the background, porphyrin arrays have been extensively explored as sensors, multielectron catalysts, photodynamic therapy reagents, artificial photosynthetic antenna, nonlinear optical materials, and so on. Here, we review the synthesis of porphyrin arrays by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, which are quite effective to construct carbon–carbon bonds and carbon–nitrogen bonds in porphyrin substrates. Palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reactions employed so far are Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction, Sonogashira coupling reaction, Buchwald–Hartwig amination, Mizoroki–Heck reaction, Migita–Kosugi–Stille coupling reaction, and so on. In each case, the representative examples and synthetic advantages are discussed.

Electronic Structure and Triplet-Triplet Energy Transfer in Artificial Photosynthetic Antennas.

Three Pd(II) phthalocyanine-carotenoid dyads featuring chromophores linked by amide bonds were prepared in order to investigate the rate of triplet-triplet (T-T) energy transfer from the tetrapyrrole to the covalently attached carotenoid as a function of the number of conjugated double bonds in the carotenoid. Carotenoids having 9, 10 and 11 conjugated double bonds were studied. Transient absorption measurements show that intersystem crossing in the Pd(II) phthalocyanine takes place in 10 ps in each case and that T-T energy transfer occurs in 126, 81 and 132 ps in the dyads bearing 9, 10 and 11 double bond carotenoids, respectively. To identify the origin of this variation in T-T energy transfer rates, density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate the T-T electronic coupling in the three dyads. According to the calculations, the primary reason for the observed T-T energy transfer trend is larger T-T electronic coupling between the tetrapyrrole and the 10-double bond carotenoid. A methyl group adjacent to the amide linker that connects the Pd(II) phthalocyanine and the carotenoid in the 9 and 11-double bond carotenoids is absent in the 10-double bond carotenoid, and this difference alters its electronic structure to increase the coupling.

Energy transfer between two light harvesting phthalocyanine derivatives as model for artificial photosynthetic antenna: Laser photolysis studies

The singlet-singlet and triplet–triplet energy transfer studies between two light harvesting phthalocyanine derivatives namely, zinc tert-butyl phthalocyanine ZnTBPc, and zinc octabutyloxy phthalocyanine ZnOBuPc, have been investigated to mimic the efficient energy-transfer process among the chlorophyll units in the natural photosynthesis. Optical absorption and emission studies showed the strong absorption and fluorescence bands for ZnOBuPc in the NIR region, which are largely red-shifted compared to that of the ZnTBPc. The strong overlap between the emission spectrum of ZnTBPc and the absorption spectrum of ZnOBuPc in toluene suggests the occurrence of the energy transfer from the singlet ZnTBPc (1.80 eV) to the singlet ZnOBuPc (1.59 eV). From the time-resolved fluorescence technique, the rate of energy transfer process was found to be 6.79 × 107 s−1. From the nanosecond laser photolysis measurements, the energy transfer from the triplet ZnTBPc to the lower lying triplet ZnOBuPc was clearly observed with a rate of 5.77 × 105 s−1. These observations suggest the usefulness of the examined combination (ZnOBuPc/ZnTBPc) as a simple model for the artificial antenna in the photosynthetic systems.

Triplet–triplet energy transfer in artificial and natural photosynthetic antennas

In photosynthetic organisms, protection against photooxidative stress due to singlet oxygen is provided by carotenoid molecules, which quench chlorophyll triplet species before they can sensitize singlet oxygen formation. In anoxygenic photosynthetic organisms, in which exposure to oxygen is low, chlorophyll-to-carotenoid triplet-triplet energy transfer (T-TET) is slow, in the tens of nanoseconds range, whereas it is ultrafast in the oxygen-rich chloroplasts of oxygen-evolving photosynthetic organisms. To better understand the structural features and resulting electronic coupling that leads to T-TET dynamics adapted to ambient oxygen activity, we have carried out experimental and theoretical studies of two isomeric carotenoporphyrin molecular dyads having different conformations and therefore different interchromophore electronic interactions. This pair of dyads reproduces the characteristics of fast and slow T-TET, including a resonance Raman-based spectroscopic marker of strong electronic coupling and fast T-TET that has been observed in photosynthesis. As identified by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the spectroscopic marker associated with fast T-TET is due primarily to a geometrical perturbation of the carotenoid backbone in the triplet state induced by the interchromophore interaction. This is also the case for the natural systems, as demonstrated by the hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations of light-harvesting proteins from oxygenic (LHCII) and anoxygenic organisms (LH2). Both DFT and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analyses further indicate that, upon T-TET, the triplet wave function is localized on the carotenoid in both dyads.

Artificial photosynthetic antennas and reaction centers

Abstract Presently, the world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis associated with the CO2 produced by the use of fossil fuels to power our economies. As evidenced by the increasing levels in the atmosphere, the reduction of CO2 to biomass by photosynthesis cannot keep pace with production with the result that nature has lost control of the global carbon cycle. In order to restore control of the global carbon cycle to solar-driven processes, highly efficient artificial photosynthesis can augment photosynthesis in specific ways and places. The increased efficiency of artificial photosynthesis can provide both renewable carbon-based fuels and lower net atmospheric levels of CO2, which will preserve land and support the ecosystem services upon which all life on Earth depends. The development of artificial photosynthetic antennas and reaction centers contributes to the understanding of natural photosynthesis and to the knowledge base necessary for the development of future scalable technologies. This review focuses on the design and study of molecular and hybrid molecular-semiconductor nanoparticle based systems, all of which are inspired by functions found in photosynthesis and some of which are inspired by components of photosynthesis. In addition to constructs illustrating energy transfer, photoinduced electron transfer, charge shift reactions and proton coupled electron transfer, our review covers systems that produce proton motive force.

Ultrafast Energy Transfer and Excited State Coupling in an Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna

We have studied the energy transfer dynamics in an artificial light-harvesting dyad composed of a phthalocyanine (Pc) covalently linked to a carotenoid (Car). The combination of high temporal resolution transient absorption spectroscopy with global and target analysis allowed us to quantify the efficiency of the energy transfer from the S2 excited state of the Car to the Pc at 37%, close to values observed in some natural light-harvesting complexes. In addition, following selective excitation of the Pc, we have identified the spectral signatures of the S1 excited state of the Car which appear within the ≈30 fs time resolution of our measurement. This strongly indicates excited state coupling between the S1 state of Car and the Qx state of Pc, with important implications for the regulation of photosynthetic activity.

Evolution of reaction center mimics to systems capable of generating solar fuel

Capturing and converting solar energy via artificial photosynthesis offers an ideal way to limit society's dependence on fossil fuel and its myriad consequences. The development and study of molecular artificial photosynthetic reactions centers and antenna complexes and the combination of these constructs with catalysts to drive the photochemical production of a fuel helps to build the understanding needed for development of future scalable technologies. This review focuses on the study of molecular complexes, design of which is inspired by the components of natural photosynthesis, and covers research from early triad reaction centers developed by the group of Gust, Moore, and Moore to recent photoelectrochemical systems capable of using light to convert water to oxygen and hydrogen.

Ultrafast Energy Transfer in an Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna

We temporally resolved energy transfer kinetics in an artificial light-harvesting dyad composed of a phthalocyanine covalently linked to a carotenoid. Upon carotenoid photo-excitation, energy transfers within ≈100fs (≈52% efficiency) to the phthalocyanine.

Selective Assembly of Photosynthetic Antenna Proteins into a Domain-Structured Lipid Bilayer for the Construction of Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna Systems: Structural Analysis of the Assembly Using Surface Plasmon Resonance and Atomic Force Microscopy

Two types of photosynthetic membrane proteins, the peripheral antenna complex (LH2) and the core antenna/reaction center complex (LH1-RC), play an essential role in the primary process of purple bacterial photosynthesis, that is, capturing light energy, transferring it to the RC where it is used in subsequent charge separation. Establishment of experimental platforms is required to understand the function of the supramolecular assembly of LH2 and LH1-RC molecules into arrays. In this study, we assembled LH2 and LH1-RC arrays into domain-structured planar lipid bilayers placed on a coverglass using stepwise combinations of vesicle-to-planar membrane formation and vesicle fusion methods. First, it was shown that assembly of LH2 and LH1-RC in planar lipid bilayers, through vesicle-to-planar membrane formation, could be confirmed by absorption spectroscopy and high resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM). Second, formation of a planar membrane incorporating LH2 molecules made by the vesicle fusion method was corroborated by AFM together with quantitative analysis by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). By combining planar membrane formation and vesicle fusion, in a stepwise manner, LH2 and LH1-RC were successfully organized in the domain-structured planar lipid membrane. This methodology for construction of LH2/LH1-RC assemblies will be a useful experimental platform with which to investigate energy transfer from LH2 to LH1-RC where the relative arrangement of these two complexes can be controlled.

Cyclic Porphyrin Arrays as Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna: Synthesis and Excitation Energy Transfer

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High-efficiency Energy Transfer from Carotenoids to a Phthalocyanine in an Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna¶

High-efficiency Energy Transfer from Carotenoids to a Phthalocyanine in an Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna¶

Cyclic porphyrin arrays as artificial photosynthetic antenna: synthesis and excitation energy transfer

Covalently linked cyclic porphyrin arrays have been explored in recent years as artificial photosynthetic antenna. In this review we present the fundamental aspects of covalently linked cyclic porphyrin arrays by highlighting recent progress. The major emphasis of this tutorial review lies on the synthetic method, the structure, and the excitation energy transfer (EET) of such arrays. The final cyclization steps were often performed with the aid of templates. Efficient EET along the wheel is observed in these cyclic arrays, but ultrafast EET processes with rates of <1 ps, which rival those in the natural LH2, are rare and have been identified only in cyclic arrays 30-32 composed of directly meso-meso linked porphyrins.

Molecular assembly of artificial photosynthetic antenna core complex on an amino-terminated ITO electrode

Bacterial photosynthetic membrane proteins, light-harvesting antenna complex (LH1), reaction center (RC), and their combined ‘core’ complex (LH1–RC) are functional elements in the primary photosynthetic events, i.e., capturing and transferring light energy and subsequent charge separation. These photosynthetic units (PSUs) isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum ( Rs. rubrum) were assembled onto an ITO electrode modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS–ITO). The near IR absorption spectra of PSUs on the assembled electrodes were identical to those of solutions, indicating that the LH1 and LH1–RC core complexes were native on the electrode. Photocurrent response of PSUs on the electrode was examined upon illumination of the LH1 complex at 880 nm. The LH1–RC and a mixed assembly of LH1 and RC exhibited photocurrent response, but not LH1 only, consistent with the function of these PSUs, capturing light energy and transferring electron. This result provides useful methodology for building an artificial fabrication of PSUs on the electrode.

Tetrapyrrole Singlet Excited State Quenching by Carotenoids in an Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna

Two artificial photosynthetic antenna models consisting of a Si phthalocyanine (Pc) bearing two axially attached carotenoid moieties having either 9 or 10 conjugated double bonds are used to illustrate some of the function of carotenoids in photosynthetic membranes. Both models studied in toluene, methyltetrahydrofuran, and benzonitrile exhibited charge separated states of the type C*+-Pc*- confirming that the quenching of the Pc S1 state is due to photoinduced electron transfer. In hexane, the Pc S1 state of the 10 double bond carotenoid-Pc model was slightly quenched but the C*+-Pc*- transient was not spectroscopically detected. A semiclassical analysis of the data in hexane at temperatures ranging from 180 to 320 K was used to demonstrate that photoinduced electron transfer could occur. The model bearing the 10 double bond carotenoids exhibits biexponential fluorescence decay in toluene and in hexane, which is interpreted in terms of an equilibrium mixture of two isomers comprising s-cis and s-trans conformers of the carotenoid. The shorter fluorescence lifetime is associated with an s-cis carotenoid conformer where the close approach between the donor and acceptor moieties provides through-space electronic coupling in addition to the through-bond component.

Artificial photosynthetic antenna-reaction center complexes based on a hexaphenylbenzene core

A hexaphenylbenzene scaffold has been used to organize the components of artificial photosynthetic antennas and antenna-reaction center mimics that feature bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene antenna moieties and porphyrin-fullerene charge-separation units. The five bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene chromophores absorb in the spectral region around 430-480 nm, where porphyrins have low extinction coefficients but solar irradiance is maximal. The hexaphenylbenzene core was built up by the well-known Diels-Alder reaction of diarylacetylenes with substituted tetraphenylcyclopentadienones. The latter were in turn prepared by condensation of substituted benzils and dibenzyl ketones, allowing flexibility in the design of the substitution pattern on the core. The spacing between the various chromophores is suitable for rapid singlet-singlet energy transfer among antenna moieties and the porphyrin, and the relatively rigid structure of the hexaphenylbenzene limits conformational heterogeneity that could reduce the efficiency of energy and electron transfer. NMR studies reveal a high barrier to rotation of the porphyirn plane relative to the hexaphenylbenzene.

Benzene-Templated Model Systems for Photosynthetic Antenna−Reaction Center Function

A synthetic strategy for preparing artificial photosynthetic antenna−reaction center complexes based on formation of a benzene core via a Diels−Alder reaction has been applied to the preparation of a zinc porphyrin (PZn)−free base porphyrin (P2H)−fullerene (C60) molecular triad. Spectroscopic studies in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran show that excitation of the zinc porphyrin antenna moiety to form 1PZn−P2H−C60 is followed by singlet−singlet energy transfer to the free base porphyrin excitation energy trap (τ = 59 ps), yielding PZn−1P2H−C60. The free base porphyrin first excited singlet state decays by photoinduced electron transfer to the fullerene (τ = 25 ps), producing a PZn−P2H•+−C60•- charge-separated state. Charge shift (τ = 167 ps) yields PZn•+−P2H−C60•-. This final charge-separated state is formed with quantum yields >90% following excitation of any of the three chromophores. Charge recombination in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (τ = 50 ns) occurs by an apparently endergonic process to give triplet states of the chromophores, rather than the ground state. In benzonitrile, charge recombination yields the ground state (τ = 220 ns). The high efficiencies of the various energy and electron-transfer processes suggest that this molecular architecture will be useful for the design of more complex antenna−reaction center complexes.

Light Harvesting and Photoprotective Functions of Carotenoids in Compact Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna Designs

Artificial light-harvesting constructs were synthesized by covalently linking two carotenoids to the central silicon atom of a phthalocyanine (Pc) derivative. Triad 1 binds two carotenoids having nine conjugated double bonds, whereas triad 2 binds two carotenoids having 10 carbon−carbon double bonds in conjugation. Fluorescence excitation experiments indicated that, in triad 1 dissolved in n-hexane, the carotenoid to Pc singlet energy transfer efficiency is ca. 92%, whereas in triad 2, it is 30%. Results from ultrafast laser spectroscopy indicate that upon population of the optically allowed S2 state of the carotenoid the optically forbidden states S1 and S* are rapidly generated in both triad 1 and triad 2. In triad 1, S2, S1, and S* all contribute singlet electronic energy to Pc. In triad 2, singlet electronic energy transfer to Pc occurs primarily from the optically allowed S2 state with little energy transfer to Pc via the S1 state, and there is no evidence for energy transfer via S*. Instead, in tria...

The design and synthesis of artificial photosynthetic antennas, reaction centres and membranes.

Artificial antenna systems and reaction centres synthesized in our laboratory are used to illustrate that structural and thermodynamic factors controlling energy and electron transfer in these constructs can be modified to optimize performance. Artificial reaction centres have been incorporated into liposomal membranes where they convert light energy to vectorial redox potential. This redox potential drives a Mitchellian, quinone-based, proton-transporting redox loop that generates a Deltamu H(+) of ca. 4.4 kcal mol(-1) comprising DeltapH ca. 2.1 and Deltapsi ca. 70 mV. In liposomes containing CF(0)F(1)-ATP synthase, this system drives ATP synthesis against an ATP chemical potential similar to that observed in natural systems.

Ultrafast Energy Transfer from a Carotenoid to a Chlorin in a Simple Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna

A model photosynthetic antenna system consisting of a carotenoid moiety covalently linked to a purpurin has been prepared to study singlet-singlet energy transfer from a carotenoid to a cyclic tetrapyrrole. Ultrafast fluorescence upconversion measurements of the carotenopurpurin dyad and an unlinked reference carotenoid demonstrate that the fluorescent S 2 excited state of the carotenoid model has a lifetime of 150 ′ 3 fs, whereas the corresponding excited state of the carotenoid in the carotenopurpurin dyad is quenched to 40 ′ 3 fs. This quenching is assigned to energy transfer from the S 2 state to the purpurin with a 73 ′ 6% efficiency, which is in accord with the 67 ′ 4% quantum yield obtained by steady-state fluorescence excitation measurements. Concomitant with the decay of the carotenoid S 2 excited state, a single-exponential rise of the excited S 1 state of the purpurin moiety was observed at 699 nm with a time constant of 64 fs. However, the decay of the fluorescence anisotropy was faster at this wavelength (40 fs) and isotropic rise times as short as 44 fs were determined at other emission wavelengths. The lifetime of the Si state of the carotenoid (7.8 ps) was the same in both the carotenoid model and the dyad. Taken together, these results unequivocally demonstrate that the S 2 state of the carotenoid moiety is the sole donor state in this efficient singlet-singlet energy transfer process. The simple dyad described in this work mimics the ultrafast energy transfer kinetics found in certain naturally occurring pigment protein complexes and is thus able to reproduce the high electronic coupling needed for efficient energy transfer from an extremely short-lived energy donor state.

Efficient Energy Transfer and Electron Transfer in an Artificial Photosynthetic Antenna−Reaction Center Complex

A highly efficient functional mimic of a photosynthetic antenna−reaction center complex has been designed, synthesized, and studied spectroscopically. The antenna, consisting of four covalently linked zinc tetraarylporphyrins, (PZP)3−PZC, has been coupled to a free-base porphyrin−fullerene artificial photosynthetic reaction center, P−C60, to form a (PZP)3−PZC−P−C60 hexad. As revealed by time-resolved absorption and emission studies in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran solution at ambient temperature, excitation of a peripheral zinc porphyrin moiety is followed by singlet−singlet energy transfer to the central zinc porphyrin to give (PZP)3−1PZC−P−C60 with a time constant of 50 ps. The excitation is passed on to the free-base porphyrin in 32 ps to produce (PZP)3−PZC−1P−C60, which decays by electron transfer to the fullerene with a time constant of 25 ps. The resulting (PZP)3−PZC−P•+−C60•- charge-separated state is generated with a quantum yield of 0.98 based on light absorbed by the porphyrin antenna. Direct excitati...