The role of porphyrin-to-porphyrin linkage topology in the extensive modulation of the absorptive and emissive properties of a series of ethynyl- and butadiynyl-bridged bis- and tris(porphinato)zinc chromophores

A new method for the regulation of the photophysical properties of highly conjugated porphyrin arrays is described. The absorptive and emissive signatures of such supramolecular structures can be modulated to an impressive degree by regulation of: i) the extent of the steric interactions that define the barrier to rotation about the conjugated bridge between the porphyrin chromophores, and ii) the magnitude of ground state chromophore-chromophore electronic communication within the supermolecule. The power of this approach is illustrated by the straightforward synthesis as well as the electronic and emission spectra of eight different porphyrin arrays in which (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphinato)zinc(II) and (10,20-diphenylporphinato)zinc(II) complexes are joined by ethyne or butadiyne groups. The points of connectivity of these bridges between the chromophoric building blocks are systematically varied to produce a series of supramolecular structures with meso-to-meso, meso-to-beta, or beta-to-beta linkage topologies. These variations allow excellent control of the ground- and excited-state characteristics of the arrays in the series by regulating the degree of both excitonic and electronic porphyrin-to-porphyrin coupling. Our approach shows the precision with which photophysical properties can be engineered in appropriately designed supramolecular systems.