Magnesium Porphyrin Research Articles

Porphyrins Bearing Arylphosphonic Acid Tethers for Attachment to Oxide Surfaces

Synthetic molecules bearing phosphonic acid groups can be readily attached to oxide surfaces. As part of a program in molecular-based information storage, we have developed routes for the synthesis of diverse porphyrinic compounds bearing phenylphosphonic acid tethers. The routes enable (1) incorporation of masked phosphonic acid groups in precursors for use in the rational synthesis of porphyrinic compounds and (2) derivatization of porphyrins with masked phosphonic acid groups. The precursors include dipyrromethanes, monoacyldipyrromethanes, and diacyldipyrromethanes. The tert-butyl group has been used to mask the dihydroxyphosphoryl substituent. The di-tert-butyloxyphosphoryl unit is stable to the range of conditions employed in syntheses of porphyrins and multiporphyrin arrays yet can be deprotected under mild conditions (TMS-Cl/TEA or TMS-Br/TEA in refluxing CHCl(3)) that do not cause demetalation of zinc or magnesium porphyrins. The porphyrinic compounds that have been prepared include (1) A(3)B-, trans-AB(2)C-, and ABCD-porphyrins that bear a single phenylphosphonic acid group, (2) a trans-A(2)B(2)-porphyrin bearing two phenylphosphonic acid groups, (3) a chlorin that bears a single phenylphosphonic acid group, and (4) a porphyrin dyad bearing a single phenylphosphonic acid group. For selected porphyrin-phosphonic acids, the electrochemical characteristics have been investigated for molecules tethered to SiO(2) surfaces grown on doped Si. The voltammetric behavior indicates that the porphyrin-phosphonic acids form robust, electrically well-behaved monolayers on the oxide surface.

Magnesium tetraarylporphyrin tweezer: a CD-sensitive host for absolute configurational assignments of alpha-chiral carboxylic acids.

A protocol to determine the absolute configuration of alpha-chiral carboxylic acids based on a modified circular dichroic (CD) exciton chirality method has been developed. The protocol relies on a host-guest complexation mechanism: the chiral substrates are derivatized to give bifunctional amide conjugates ("guests") that form complexes with a dimeric magnesium porphyrin host, Mg-T (T stands for "tweezer") that acts as a "receptor". The two porphyrins in the complex adopt a preferred helicity dictated by the substituents at the chiral center in accordance with their steric sizes (assigned on the basis of conformational energy A-values) and, consequently, with the absolute configuration of the substrates under investigation. This chiroptical method, verified with a variety of chiral substrates, has been demonstrated to be reliable and generally applicable, including natural products with complex structures. Molecular modeling, NMR, and FTIR experiments of selected host-guest complexes revealed the mode of ligation of the substrates to the magnesium porphyrin species and led to clarification of the structure of the complex. When oxygen functionalities were directly attached to the chiral center, the signs of the CD couplets were opposite to those predicted on the basis of steric size. NMR and molecular modeling experiments indicated that this apparent inconsistency was due to conformational characteristics of the guest molecules. The stereochemical analysis is shown to be a sensitive technique, not only for the determination of absolute configurations of substrates but also for elucidation of their solution conformations.

Formation of Porphyrins in the Presence of Acid-Labile Metalloporphyrins: A New Route to Mixed-Metal Multiporphyrin Arrays

The ability to incorporate distinct metalloporphyrins at designated sites in multiporphyrin arrays is essential for diverse applications in materials and biomimetic chemistry. The synthesis of such mixed-metal arrays via acid catalyzed reactions has largely been restricted to metalloporphyrins of stability class II (e.g., Cu, Co, Ni) or I. We describe routes for the rational synthesis of mixed-metal arrays via acid-catalyzed condensations that are compatible with metalloporphyrins of stability class III (e.g., Zn) and IV (e.g., Mg). The routes are demonstrated for p-phenylene-linked arrays. The key finding is that several mild Lewis acids [InCl(3), Sc(OTf)(3), Yb(OTf)(3), and Dy(OTf)(3)], which are known to catalyze the dipyrromethane + dipyrromethane-dicarbinol condensation in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature without acidolysis, do not demetalate zinc or magnesium porphyrins under the same conditions. Rational routes to porphyrin dyads and triads employ reaction of a (porphyrin)-dipyrromethane and a (porphyrin)-dipyrromethane-dicarbinol. The porphyrin-forming reactions (six examples) proceed in yields of 18-28%. The metalation states of the arrays prepared in this manner include Zn-free base (ZnFb), MgFb, ZnFbMg, ZnFbZn, and ZnFbFb. Studies of the catalysis process indicate that the dipyrromethane + dipyrromethane-dicarbinol condensation is catalyzed by both the Lewis acid and a Brønsted acid derived in situ from the Lewis acid. Taken together, the ability to employ otherwise "acid-labile" metalloporphyrins as precursors in condensation procedures should broaden the scope of accessible mixed-metal multiporphyrin arrays and motivate further studies of the application of mild Lewis acid catalysts in porphyrin chemistry.

Direct determination of absolute configuration of monoalcohols by bis(magnesium porphyrin).

Ethane bridged bis(Mg porphyrin) has been found to be an effective sensor for the direct determination of the absolute configuration of a variety of monoalcohols at millimolar concentrations and room temperature based on the CD exciton chirality method. Examination of a variety of synthetic and natural monoalcohols, including alpha-substituted aliphatic and aromatic alkanols with one chiral center, as well as alicyclic alcohols with 2-5 chiral centers, gave consistent results. In the case of alcohols with multiple chiral centers, the absolute configuration of the carbon alpha to OH is always read out.

Design and synthesis of light-harvesting rods for intrinsic rectification of the migration of excited-state energy and ground-state holesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: 1H and 13C NMR spectra for all new porphyrin precursors; 1H NMR and LD-MS spectra for all new porphyrins and porphyrin arrays (LD-MS only for deprotected arrays 12′ and 14′, and pentad 18); analytical SEC data for all

We present the design of molecular materials for ultimate use in solid-state solar cells. The molecular materials are semi-rigid oligomeric rods of defined length with metalloporphyrins in the backbone and a carboxy group at one end for attachment to a surface. The rods are designed to absorb visible light, and then undergo excited-state energy transfer and ground-state hole transfer in opposite directions along the length of the rod. The rational synthesis of the multiporphyrin arrays relies on joining porphyrin building blocks in an efficient and controlled manner. Several porphyrin building blocks have been synthesized that bear bromophenyl, iodophenyl, trimethylsilylethynylphenyl and/or ethynylphenyl substituents for use in a copper-free Sonogashira reaction using Pd2(dba)3 and P(o-tol)3. Competition experiments performed on equimolar quantities of an iodo-porphyrin and a bromo-porphyrin with an ethynyl-porphyrin show iodo + ethyne coupling with a low amount (35 °C) or undetectable amount (22 °C) of bromo + ethyne coupling. Efficient coupling of bromo-porphyrins with ethynyl-porphyrins was achieved using the same copper-free Sonogashira reaction conditions at higher temperature (50 °C or 80 °C). These findings allow successive coupling reactions to be achieved using substrates bearing iodo and bromo synthetic handles. Thus, a porphyrin-based tetrad (or pentad) was synthesized with a final convergent coupling of a bromo-substituted dyad (or triad) and an ethynyl-substituted dyad. A porphyrin triad was prepared by sequential iodo + ethyne coupling reactions. The triad, tetrad, and pentad each are comprised of a terminal magnesium porphyrin bearing one carboxy group (for surface attachment) and two pentafluorophenyl groups; the remaining porphyrins in each array are present as the zinc chelate. Electrochemical characterization of benchmark porphyrins indicates the presence of the desired electrochemical gradient for hole hopping in the arrays. Static absorption data indicate that the arrays are weakly coupled, while static fluorescence data indicate that the excited-state energy flows in high yield to the terminal magnesium porphyrin. Time-resolved spectroscopic analysis leads to rate constants in THF of (9 ps)−1, (15 ps)−1, and (30 ps)−1 for ZnMg dyad 20, Zn2Mg triad 13, and Zn3Mg tetrad 15, respectively, and quantum efficiencies ≥99% for energy flow to the magnesium porphyrin in each case. These design and synthesis strategies should be useful for the construction of materials for molecular-based solar cells.

Glaser-mediated synthesis and photophysical characterization of diphenylbutadiyne-linked porphyrin dyads.

The Pd-mediated Glaser coupling of a zinc monoethynyl porphyrin and a magnesium monoethynyl porphyrin affords a mixture of three 4,4'-diphenylbutadiyne-linked dyads comprised of two zinc porphyrins (Zn-pbp-Zn), two magnesium porphyrins (Mg-pbp-Mg), and one metalloporphyrin of each type (Zn-pbp-Mg). The latter is easily isolated due to the greater polarity of the magnesium versus the zinc chelate. Exposure of Zn-pbp-Mg to silica gel results in selective demetalation, affording Zn-pbp-Fb where Fb = free base porphyrin. This synthesis route employs the magnesium porphyrin as a latent form of the Fb porphyrin, thereby avoiding copper insertion during the Glaser reaction, and as a polar entity facilitating separation. The absorption spectrum of Zn-pbp-Mg or Zn-pbp-Fb is the sum of the spectra of the component parts, while in each case the fluorescence spectrum upon illumination of the Zn porphyrin is dominated by emission from the Mg or Fb porphyrin. Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy shows that the energy-transfer rate constants are (11 ps)(-1) and (37 ps)(-1) for Zn-pbp-Mg and Zn-pbp-Fb, respectively, corresponding to energy-transfer quantum yields of 0.995 and 0.983, respectively. The calculated Förster through-space rates are (1900 ps)(-1) and (1100 ps)(-1) for Zn-pbp-Mg and Zn-pbp-Fb, respectively. Accordingly, the through-bond process dominates for both dyads with a through-bond:through-space energy-transfer ratio of > or =97:1. Collectively, the studies show that the 4,4'-diphenylbutadiynyl linker supports fast and efficient energy transfer between Zn and Mg or Fb porphyrins.

Effects of diverse acid catalysts on the reaction course in the two-step one-flask synthesis of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin

A set of 45 acids or acid combinations was examined in the condensation of pyrrole + benzaldehyde (10 mM each in CH 2 Cl 2) leading to meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP). Initial screening experiments identified suitable acid catalysts and the optimal concentration (in terms of TPP formation) for each acid. Subsequent experiments followed the time course of reactions using the best conditions identified in the screening experiments. The reaction course was followed by monitoring reactions from 1 min to 24 h for the yield of TPP (by UV-vis and HPLC), the yields of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin and tetraphenylsapphyrin (by HPLC), the quantity of unreacted benzaldehyde (by TLC), and the oligomer composition (by laser desorption mass spectrometry). Diverse acids (Brønsted or Lewis; soluble or insoluble) were found to provide yields of TPP ranging up to ~50%. Only 10 acids gave no TPP. In addition, N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin was found to be a ubiquitous byproduct, whereas tetraphenylsapphyrin was not widely observed. MgBr 2-etherate and CuCl 2 each catalyzed porphyrinogen formation and resulted in porphyrin metalation following oxidation and neutralization of the reaction mixture, thereby providing direct, one-flask syntheses of magnesium and copper porphyrins. Observations concerning the reaction course obtained from prior studies of TFA or BF 3-etherate catalysis have been found to be quite general across a broad range of acid catalysts. Collectively, these results show that many acids have potential utility in porphyrin syntheses.

Rational syntheses of cyclic hexameric porphyrin arrays for studies of self-assembling light-harvesting systems.

Two new cyclic hexameric arrays of porphyrins have been prepared in a rational, convergent manner. The porphyrins in each cyclic hexamer are joined by diphenylethyne linkers affording a wheel-like array with a diameter of approximately 35 A. One array is comprised of five zinc (Zn) porphyrins and one free base (Fb) porphyrin (cyclo-Zn(5)FbU) while the other is comprised of an alternating sequence of two Zn porphyrins and one Fb porphyrin (cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)FbU). The prior synthesis employed a one-flask template-directed process and afforded alternating Zn and Fb porphyrins or all Zn porphyrins. More diverse metalation patterns are attractive for manipulating the flow of excited-state energy in the arrays. The rational synthesis of each array employed three Pd-mediated coupling reactions with four tetraarylporphyrin building blocks bearing diethynyl, diiodo, bromo/iodo, or iodo/ethynyl groups. The final ring closure yielding the cyclic hexamer was achieved by reaction of a porphyrin pentamer + porphyrin monomer or the joining of two porphyrin trimers. In the presence of a tripyridyl template, the yields of the 5 + 1 and 3 + 3 reactions ranged from 10 to 13%. The 5 + 1 reaction in the absence of the template proceeded in 3.5% yield, thereby establishing the structure-directed contribution to cyclic hexamer formation. The 3 + 3 route relied on successive ethyne + iodo/bromo coupling reactions. One template-directed route to cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)FbU employed a magnesium porphyrin, affording cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)MgU from which magnesium was selectively removed. The arrays exhibit absorption spectra that are nearly the sum of the spectra of the component parts, indicating weak electronic coupling. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the quantum yield of energy transfer in toluene at room temperature from the Zn porphyrins to the Fb porphyrin(s) was 60% in cyclo-Zn(5)FbU and 90% in cyclo-Zn(2)FbZn(2)FbU. Two dipyridyl-substituted porphyrins, a Zn tetraarylporphyrin and a Fb oxaporphyrin, have been synthesized for use as guests in the cyclic hexamers, affording self-assembled arrays for light-harvesting studies.

Synthesis and Excited-State Photodynamics in Perylene-Porphyrin Dyads 2. Effects of Porphyrin Metalation State on the Energy-Transfer, Charge-Transfer, and Deactivation Channels

The photophysical properties of two perylene−porphyrin dyads have been examined in detail with the aim of expanding the functional utility of these constructs for molecular optoelectronics applications. The dyads consist of a perylene-bis(imide) dye (PDI) connected to either a magnesium porphyrin (Mg) or a free base porphyrin (Fb) via a diphenylethyne (pep) linker. The photophysical behavior of these two dyads show both similarities and differences to one another and to the dyad containing a zinc porphyrin (Zn) that was examined in the previous paper in this series. In the case of both PDI−pep−Fb and PDI−pep−Mg in toluene, the excited perylene unit (PDI*) decays rapidly (Fb = 2.9 ps; Mg = 2.5 ps) by energy transfer to the porphyrin forming PDI−pep−Por* in relatively high yield (Fb ∼ 85%; Mg ∼ 50%) and hole transfer to the porphyrin forming PDI-−pep−Por+ (Fb ∼ 15%; Mg ∼ 50%). This behavior parallels that observed for PDI−pep−Zn, for which rapid (2.5 ps) decay of PDI* affords PDI−pep−Zn* and PDI-−pep−Por+ with yields of 80% and 20%, respectively. The subsequent behavior of the Fb-containing dyad is distinctly different in two ways from that of the Zn or Mg porphyrin-containing dyads. (1) Charge recombination within PDI-−pep−Fb+ primarily forms PDI−pep−Fb*, thereby complementing the formation of the latter species from PDI*−pep−Fb. (2) PDI−pep−Fb* subsequently decays to the ground state via fluorescence emission with a rate and yield that are nearly identical to those of an isolated Fb porphyrin. In contrast, for both PDI−pep−Mg and PDI−pep−Zn, the predominant decay process for PDI−pep−Por* is electron-transfer yielding PDI-−pep−Por+ (Zn ∼ 80%; Mg >99%). The rapid electron-transfer quenching of PDI−pep−Por* and the nonemissive character of PDI-−pep−Por+ leads to negligible fluorescence from the two metalloporphyrin-containing dyads after photoexcitation. The PDI-−pep−Por+ charge-separated product with Por = Mg or Zn is very long-lived (>10 ns) in toluene but decays much more rapidly (<0.5 ns) in acetonitrile. The differences in the rates of the various charge-transfer and charge-recombination processes of all of the dyads are consistent with a rate versus free-energy-gap profile (based on the relative redox potentials of the porphyrin constituents) that is in qualitative accord with electron-transfer theory. Collectively, the studies reported in this and the previous paper indicate that PDI−pep−Fb has the greatest potential utility in photonics applications wherein light harvesting by an accessory pigment, energy transport to an output chromophore, and emission (or energy transfer to another chromophore) are desired. On the other hand, PDI−pep−Mg (like PDI−pep−Zn) would be most useful as an all-optical gating element in which excited-state energy in an appended chromophore chain can be quenched by the charge-separated state of the perylene-porphyrin dyad, thereby shunting the light output or flow of energy.

Design and Synthesis of Porphyrin-Based Optoelectronic Gates

Two porphyrin-based optoelectronic gates and several prototypical redox-switching components of gates have been synthesized for studies in molecular photonics. Linear and T-shaped molecular optoelectronic gates contain a boron-dipyrrin (BDPY) dye as the input unit, a zinc (Zn) porphyrin as the transmission unit, a free base (Fb) porphyrin as the output unit, and a magnesium (Mg) porphyrin as the redox-switching unit. The linear gate and T gate were synthesized using a molecular building block approach. In the linear gate synthesis, a BDPY−Zn porphyrin dyad was coupled with a Fb porphyrin−Mg porphyrin dimer. The synthesis of the T gate utilized a Zn porphyrin bearing four different meso substituents: mesityl, 4-iodophenyl, 4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl, and 4-[2-triisopropyl)ethynyl]phenyl. Attachment of the three different groups to the Zn porphyrin was accomplished using successive Pd-mediated coupling reactions in the following sequence: Fb porphyrin (output unit), BDPY dye (input unit), and Mg porphyrin (redox-switching unit). Both the linear gate and T gate syntheses introduce the Mg porphyrin at the final step to minimize demetalation of the Mg porphyrin. Refinements to various components of these gates were investigated through the preparation of a ferrocene−porphyrin, a ferrocene−phthalocyanine, and a ferrocene−porphyrin−phthalocyanine. A dyad motif for studies of optically based redox switching was prepared that contains a derivative of Ru(bpy)3X2 coupled to a porphyrin. From these and related studies have emerged a number of design considerations for the development of refined optoelectronic gates.

The aromatic character of magnesium porphyrins

The aromaticity of magnesium porphyrins have been studied by calculating the nuclear magnetic shieldings in selected points outside the molecules. The strength of the induced ring currents for a given magnetic field have been obtained by using the aromatic-ring-current-shielding (ARCS) method. Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations provide additional information about the current routes in the multiple-ring systems. The total aromatic pathway of magnesium porphyrins must be considered as a superposition of several (4n + 2) pi-electron Huckel pathways. We found that all beta-unsaturated pyrrolic rings have local ring currents the strength of which is 70-90% of the current strength for the pyrrole molecule. The present study also shows that the 18pi-[16]annulene aromatic pathway does not exist in magnesium porphyrins until all four pyrrolic units are saturated in the beta-position.

Density functional theory study of the electronic absorption spectrum of Mg-porphyrin and Mg-etioporphyrin-I

The electronic absorption spectra of magnesium porphyrin (MgP) and magnesium etioporphyrin I (MgEtioP) have been studied at the density functional theory level using the time-dependent perturbation theory approach. The optimization of the molecular structures was carried out using the Becke–Perdew functional and split-valence quality basis sets augmented by polarization functions. The first excitation energy for MgP and MgEtioP are 2.21 and 2.19 eV, respectively, as compared to the experimental value of 2.14 eV for MgEtioP. For higher excited states, the excitation energies of MgEtioP are about 0.2–0.3 eV smaller than for MgP.

Effects of Metalation State (Free Base, Mg, Zn, Cd) on Excited-State Energy Transfer in Diarylethyne-Linked Porphyrin Dimers.

The ground- and excited-state properties of two new porphyrin dimers have been examined using static and time-resolved optical techniques. One dimer consists of a zinc porphyrin and a magnesium porphyrin (ZnMgU), and the other dimer consists of a cadmium porphyrin and a free base (Fb) porphyrin (CdFbU). In both arrays, the porphyrins are joined by a diarylethyne linker at one meso position with mesityl groups at the nonlinking meso positions. The rates of photoinduced energy transfer are faster for ZnMgU ((9 ps)(-)(1)) and CdFbU ((15 ps)(-)(1)) than found previously for ZnFbU ((24 ps)(-)(1)) and MgFbU ((31 ps)(-)(1)). Only for CdFbU does the yield of excited-state energy transfer (87%) drop below the near-quantitative (>/=99%) level, and this effect derives solely from competition with a very short inherent lifetime ( approximately 100 ps) of the photoexcited Cd porphyrin. The results further illustrate (1) the efficacy of this dimeric architecture for ultrafast excited-state energy transfer, (2) how molecular/electronic properties can be manipulated to tune photoinduced energy flow in multiporphyrin arrays, and (3) key factors impacting effective inter-porphyrin electronic communication, including porphyrin orbital tuning.

Theoretical study of the electronic spectrum of magnesium-porphyrin

Multiconfigurational self-consistent field (SCF) and second order perturbation methods have been used to study the electronic spectrum of magnesium-porphyrin (MgP). An extended ANO-type basis set including polarization functions on all heavy atoms has been used. Four allowed singlet states of E1u symmetry have been computed and in addition a number of forbidden transitions and a few triplet states. The results lead to a consistent interpretation of the electronic spectrum, where the Q band contains one transition, the B band two, and the N band one. The computed transition energies are consistently between 0.1 and 0.5 too low compared to the measured band maxima. The source of the discrepancy is the approximate treatment of dynamic correlation (second order perturbation theory), limitations in the basis set and the fact that all measurements have been made on substituted magnesium porphyrins.

Investigation of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry of Diverse Synthetic Metalloporphyrins, Phthalocyanines and Multiporphyrin Arrays

We investigated the utility of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) for analyzing porphyrinic compounds using a variety of different synthetic porphyrins, azaporphyrins, phthalocyanines and multiporphyrin arrays. Comparisons of spectra obtained from these analytes deposited either as neat samples or codeposited with neutral or acidic matrices have been made with the goal of identifying conditions that yield minimal demetalation, transmetalation, adduct formation and fragmentation. It was found that the molecular masses of many porphyrins can be successfully measured from neat sample preparations and do not require a matrix to facilitate desorption and ionization, although the measurement of large multiporphyrin arrays was facilitated by the use of matrices. Demetalation of magnesium porphyrins occurred in the presence of acidic matrices, but not with neutral matrices such as 1,4-benzoquinone. Positive ion spectra were obtained for each compound and negative ion spectra were also collected for the azaporphyrins and phthalocyanines. Examination of selected samples (prepared neat, with 1,4-benzoquinone, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone or α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) showed that the dominant process of ionization involved oxidation yielding the radical cation M+· rather than the protonated molecule [M+H]+. MALDI-TOF-MS is shown to be a powerful analytical tool for the characterization of diverse synthetic porphyrinic compounds.

Theoretical Study of the Q and B Bands of Free-Base, Magnesium, and Zinc Porphyrins, and Their Derivatives

The multireference Møller−Plesset perturbation (MRMP) theory with complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) reference functions is applied to the study of the Q and B bands of free-base, magnesium, and zinc porphyrins and their derivatives. The Q band of free-base porphyrin is so weak because the transition is pseudoparity-forbidden because of the alternancy symmetry. The Q band in the visible region can be intensified if the pairing property is broken. This is achieved by various chemical modifications to the basic structure of free-base porphyrin such as external substituents, changes in conjugation pathway, and change in central substituent. The intensity and color of the Q band as well as the macrocyclic porphyrin skeleton are perturbed to a greater or lesser extent by various chemical modifications. Insertion of aza groups in meso position leads to the shrinking of the size of the central hole, whereas hydrogenation to the exo double bond of pyrrole rings expands the central hole. Substitution of nitrogen atoms for meso carbon atoms significantly intensifies the oscillator strength of the higher energy side transition of the Q band with the peak position unchanged. Ring reduction widens the splitting of two peaks of the Q band, giving rise to the characteristically strong far-red band and the weaker visible band. Changes from metal-free to metalloporphyrins have a less dramatic effect on the spectra.

Scaled quantum mechanical and experimental vibrational spectra of magnesium and zinc porphyrins

The ground state geometries, scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) quadratic force fields, and infrared and Raman intensities of magnesium and zinc porphyrins (MgP and ZnP), and of (H 2O) 2MgP have been determined from density functional theory, using the Becke-Lee-Yang-Parr composite exchange-correlation functional (B3-LYP)_and the 6-31G ∗ basis set. The geometry of (H 2O)MgP has also been determined. The calculated force fields have been transformed to non-redundant natural internal coordinates and scaled by six scaling factors optimized earlier for free base porphyrin. Infrared and normal Raman spectra (the latter excited with 1064 nm infrared radiation) of the title compounds have been recorded. The calculated spectra compare excellently with the experimental ones, showing the accuracy of the SQM force field, and enabling a complete assignment of the fundamentals. According to the calculations, both MgP and ZnP are planar. The Mg ion in (H 2O)MgP is about 0.28 Å out of the N 4 plane. The calculations give reliable estimates for the force constants associated with the inactive vibrations. Some of these, e.g. the ruffling of the porphyrin ring, are important and are difficult to determine experimentally.

Hartree-Fock symmetry-breaking in magnesium and nickel porphyrins

Hartree-Fock symmetry-breaking in magnesium and nickel porphyrins

Hartree-Fock symmetry-breaking in magnesium and nickel porphyrins

Since previous studies of free-base porphyrin (H 2P) have shown that Hartree-Fock (HF) theory yields a qualitatively incorrect, low-symmetry, bond-alternating structure, this paper addresses whether the addition of a central Mg or Ni atom is a perturbation sufficient to restore symmetry to the porphyrin framework. Thus, HF geometry optimizations and harmonic frequency analyses are performed for magnesium (MgP) and nickel porphyrin (NiP) using the 3-21G, 6-311G, and polarized 6-311G(d) basis sets. In the case of MgP, the addition of the central metal atom does not yield a delocalized structure, but the threshold to symmetry-breaking is greatly reduced relative to H 2P. In the case of NiP, a qualitatively correct, high-symmetry geometry is found at the HF/3-21G level, but larger basis sets yield a bond-alternating form. The threshold to symmetry-breaking in porphyrins is thus reduced further in NiP, due mainly to 3d bonding interactions which stabilize the porphyrin framework.

Synthetic strategy yields large porphyrin arrays in one step

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 ...