Resonance Raman spectroscopic study of fused multiporphyrin linear arrays

For prospective applications as molecular electric wires, triply linked fused porphyrin arrays have been prepared. As expected from their completely flat molecular structures, pi-electron delocalization can be extended to the whole array manifested by a continuous redshift of the HOMO-LUMO transition band to infrared region up to a few mum as the number of porphyrin units in the array increases. To gain an insight into the relationship between the molecular structures and electronic properties, we have investigated resonance Raman spectra of fused porphyrin arrays depending on the number of porphyrin pigments in the array. We have carried out the normal mode analysis of fused porphyrin dimer based on the experimental results including Raman frequency shifts of two types of C-13-isotope substituted dimers, Raman enhancement pattern by changing excitation wavelength, and depolarization ratio measurements as well as normal-mode calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G level. In order to find the origins for the resonance Raman mode enhancement mechanism, we have predicted both the excited state geometry changes (A-term) and the vibronic coupling efficiencies (B-term) for the relevant electronic transitions based on the INDO/S-SCI method. A detailed normal mode analysis of the fused dimer allows us to extend successfully our exploration to longer fused porphyrin arrays. Overall, our investigations have provided a firm basis in understanding the molecular vibrations of fused porphyrin arrays in relation to their unique flat molecular structures and rich electronic transitions. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.