Energy and Electron Transfer in Polyacetylene-Linked Zinc-Porphyrin-[60]Fullerene Molecular Wires

The synthesis and electrochemical and photophysical studies of a series of alkyne‐linked zinc–porphyrin–[60]fullerene dyads are described. These dyads represent a new class of fully conjugated donor–acceptor systems. An alkynyl–fullerene synthon was synthesized by a nucleophilic addition reaction, and was then oxidatively coupled with a series of alkynyl tetra‐aryl zinc–porphyrins with 1–3 alkyne units. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry studies confirmed that the porphyrin and fullerene are electronically coupled and that the degree of electronic interaction decreases with increasing length of the alkyne bridge. In toluene, energy transfer from the excited zinc–porphyrin singlet to the fullerene moiety occurs, affording fullerene triplet quantum yields of greater than 90 %. These dyads exhibit very rapid photoinduced electron transfer in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and benzonitrile (PhCN), which is consistent with normal Marcus behavior. Slower rates for charge recombination in THF versus PhCN clearly indicate that charge‐recombination events are occurring in the Marcus inverted region. Exceptionally small attenuation factors (β) of 0.06±0.005 Å−1 demonstrate that the triple bond is an effective mediator of electronic interaction in zinc–porphyrin–alkyne–fullerene molecular wires. Make the connection: The synthesis and electrochemical and photophysical studies of a series of zinc–porphyrin–[60]fullerene dyads are described (see figure). They represent a new class of fully conjugated donor–acceptor systems connected by polyacetylene linkers. The systems exhibit rapid photoinduced electron transfer in THF and benzonitrile, which is consistent with normal Marcus behaviour, and charge recombination in the Marcus inverted region.