Non-covalent versus covalent donoracceptor systems based on near-infrared absorbing azulenocyanines and C60 fullerene derivativesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details, additional spectra and analysis data. See DOI: 10.1039/c2cc30632h

A novel supramolecular electron donoracceptor hybrid ( 21 ) and an electron donoracceptor conjugate ( 3 ), both exhibiting a remarkably shifted Q band in the NIR region of the solar spectrum, were prepared. Irradiation of the supramolecular ensemble 2 1 within the visible range leads to a nanosecond lived radicalion pair state Znazulenocyanine&z.rad; + C 60 &z.rad; . Supramolecular and covalent ZnazulenocyanineC 60 systems, which exhibit a remarkable panchromatic absorption, have been prepared and their photophysical properties studied.