Dendronized Fullerene-Porphyrin Conjugates in ortho, meta, and para Positions: A Charge-Transfer Assay

The physicochemical characterization, that is, ground and excited state, of a new series of dendronized porphyrin/fullerene electron donor–acceptor conjugates in nonaqueous and aqueous environments is reported. In contrast to previous work, we detail the charge‐separation and charge‐recombination dynamics in zinc and copper metalloporphyrins as a function of first‐ and second‐generation dendrons as well as a function of ortho, meta, and para substitution. Both have an appreciable impact on the microenvironments of the redox‐active constituents, namely the porphyrins and the fullerenes. As a matter of fact, the resulting charge‐transfer dynamics were considerably impacted by the interplay between the associated forces that reach from dendron‐induced shielding to dipole–charge interactions. Get into position: A series of porphyrin—fullerene conjugates have been synthesized and studied in both nonaqueous and aqueous solutions. The microenvironment around the redox‐active components has been altered through varying the topology of the dendrimers attached to the porphyrin (see scheme). Photophysical and chemical investigations provide insights into the effect that this has on electron transfer.