Photoinduced electron transfer in supramolecular ruthenium-porphyrin assembliesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental section, characterisation of precursors, ligands, ruthenium complexes and supramolecular assemblies; solution NMR investigations of the assemblies; determination of the association constants; absorption and emission studies at different concentrations, emission studies and electrochemical characterization; computational details. See DOI: 10.1039/c6dt04

We present dynamic supramolecular systems composed of a Ru( ii ) complex of the form of [Ru(dtBubpy) 2 (qpy)][PF 6 ] 2 (where dtBubpy is 4,4′-di- tert -butyl-2,2′-dipyridyl and qpy is 4,4′:2′,2′′:4′′,4′′′-quaterpyridine) and zinc tetraphenylporphyrins (ZnTPP), through non-covalent interactions between the distal pyridine moieties of the qpy ligand and the zinc of ZnTPP. The optoelectronic properties of the assemblies and the electronic interactions between the chromophoric units have been comprehensively characterized by computational investigations, and steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. Upon photoexcitation of ZnTPP, electron transfer to the ruthenium center is thermodynamically favorable and, as a result, strong emission quenching of both units occurs. We present dynamic supramolecular systems composed of a Ru( ii ) complex of the form of [Ru(dtBubpy) 2 (qpy)][PF 6 ] 2 (where dtBubpy is 4,4′-di- tert -butyl-2,2′-dipyridyl and qpy is 4,4′:2′,2′′:4′′,4′′′-quaterpyridine) and zinc tetraphenylporphyrins (ZnTPP), through non-covalent interactions between the distal pyridines of the qpy and the zinc of ZnTPP.