Extending the self-organization algorithm of chlorosomal bacteriochlorophylls to synthetic pigments

Two new zinc porphyrins having two meso-undecyl solubilizing groups and two meso-formyl groups or two meso-cyano groups have been prepared in good yields and were shown by stationary absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies to self-organize in nonpolar solvents such as n-heptane. The diformyl and dicyano recognition groups can thus successfully replace the hydroxy and carbonyl recognition groups encountered in the natural self-organizing bacteriochlorophylls and which were, up to now, the only recognition groups used in synthetic or sernisynthetic bacteriochlorophyll mimics. Copyright (c) 2007 Society of Porphyrins & Phthalocyanines.