The influence of phenylethynyl linkers on the photo-physical properties of metal-free porphyrins

Series of 5,10,15,20-tetraarylporphyrins 1 and 5,10, 15,20-tetrakis[4-(arylethynyl)phenyl]porphyrins 2 were prepared via condensation of pyrrole with the appropriate benzaldehyde or 4-(arylethynyl)benzaldehyde derivative (3). Condensation of meso-phenyldipyrromethane with mixtures of benzaldehyde and 4-(trimethylsilylethynyl)benzaldehyde gave a separable mixture of mono- (6), bis- (both cis-7 and trans-8) and tris[4-(trimethylsilylethynyl)phenyl] porphyrin (9). Following removal of the trimethylsilyl groups of 6-9, the 4-ethynylphenyl groups of 11-14 were coupled to 1-iodo-3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)benzene with Pd(OAc)(2) to give 15-18 bearing one, two (both cis- and trans-) and three 4-[bis-3,5-(trifluoromethyl)phenylethynyl]phenyl groups respectively. Coupling of 11 and 1-iodo-4-nitrobenzene with Pd(OAc)(2) gave porphyrin 19 with one 4-(4-nitrophenylethynyl)phenyl group. Porphyrin 24 with a p-quinone linked to the porphyrin core via a phenylethynyl group was prepared via similar chemistry. The absorbance spectra, emission maxima, excited-state fluorescence lifetimes, quantum yields of fluorescence, rates of fluorescence and rates of non-radiative decay were measured for each of the porphyrins. Absorbance spectra and emission maxima were nearly identical for all the porphyrins of this study, which suggests that the aryl groups and 4-(arylethynyl)phenyl groups are not strongly coupled to the porphyrin core in these metal-free compounds. Fluorescence quantum yields and rates of radiative decay were larger for porphyrins bearing 4-(arylethynyl)phenyl groups, while excited-state fluorescence lifetimes were somewhat shorter. These effects were additive for each additional 4-(arylethynyl)phenyl group. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.