Porphyrins are attractive chromophores for incorporation into light harvesting devices. Some of the most efficient porphyrin derivatives in this regard are synthetically complex platforms with specially tailored electronic properties. This work details the unique geometric and electronic structure of the phlorin framework. X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy demonstrate that unlike typical tetrapyrrole macrocycles, the phlorin is not aromatic. These unusual electronics are manifest in distinct photophysical and redox properties, as the phlorin displays a rich multielectron redox chemistry. The phlorin also displays an intriguing supramolecular chemistry and can reversibly bind up to two equivalents of fluoride in cooperative fashion. Accordingly, this synthetically accessible sensitizer displays a rich multielectron redox chemistry, excellent spectral coverage and an intriguing anion binding chemistry that distinguishes this system from more commonly studied porphyrinoids.

The synthesis, electrochemistry, and photophysical characterization of a 10,10-dimethyl-5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-biladiene (DMBil1) linear tetrapyrrole supporting PdII or PtII centers is presented. Both of these nonmacrocyclic tetrapyrrole platforms are robust and easily prepared via modular routes. X-ray diffraction experiments reveal that the Pd[DMBil1] and Pt-[DMBil1] complexes adopt similar structures and incorporate a single PdII and PtII center, respectively. Additionally, electrochemical experiments revealed that both Pd[DMBil1] and Pt[DMBil1] can undergo two discrete oxidation and reduction processes. Spectroscopic experiments carried out for Pd[DMBil1] and Pt[DMBil1] provide further understanding of the electronic structure of these systems. Both complexes strongly absorb light in the UV–visible region, especially in the 350–600 nm range. Both Pd[DMBil1] and Pt[DMBil1] are luminescent under a nitrogen atmosphere. Upon photoexcitation of Pd[DMBil1], two emission bands are observed; fluorescence is detected from ~500–700 nm and phosphorescence from ~700–875 nm. Photoexcitation of Pt[DMBil1] leads only to phosphorescence, presumably due to enhanced intersystem crossing imparted by the heavier PtII center. Phosphorescence from both complexes is quenched under air due to energy transfer from the excited triplet state to ground state oxygen. Accordingly, irradiation with light of λ ≥ 500 nm prompts Pd[DMBil1] and Pt[DMBil1] to photosensitize the generation of 1O2 (singlet oxygen) with impressive quantum yields of 80% and 78%, respectively. The synthetic accessibility of these complexes coupled with their ability to efficiently photosensitize 1O2 may make them attractive platforms for development of new agents for photodynamic therapy.

A homologous set of 5,5-dimethylphlorin macrocycles in which the identity of one aryl ring is systematically varied has been prepared. These derivatives contain ancillary pentaflurophenyl (3H(PhlF)), mesityl (3H(PhlMes)), 2,6-bismethoxyphenyl (3H(PhlOMe)), 4-nitrophenyl (3H(PhlNO2)) or 4-tert-butylcarboxyphenyl (3H(PhlCO2tBu)) groups at the 15-meso-position. These porphyrinoids were prepared in good yields (35 – 50%) and display unusual multielectron redox and photochemical properties. Each phlorin can be oxidized up to three times at modest potentials and can be reduced twice. The electron-donating and releasing properties of the ancillary aryl substituent attenuate the potentials of these redox events; phlorins containing electron-donating aryl groups are easier to oxidize and harder to reduce, while the opposite trend is observed for phlorins containing electron-withdrawing functionalities. Phlorin substitution also has a pronounced effect on the observed photophysics, as introduction of electron-releasing aryl groups on the periphery of the macrocycle is manifest in larger emission quantum yields and longer fluorescence lifetimes. Each phlorin displays an intriguing supramolecular chemistry and can bind 2 equivalents of fluoride. This binding is allosteric in nature and the strength of halide binding correlates with the ability of the phlorin to stabilize the buildup of charge. Moreover, fluoride binding to generate complexes of the form 3H(PhlR)·2F− modulates the redox potentials of the parent phlorin. As such, titration of phlorin with a source of fluoride represents a facile method to tune the ability of this class of porphyrinoid to absorb light and engage in redox chemistry.

The synthesis, electrochemistry, and photophysical characterization of a 10,10-dimethylbiladiene tetrapyrrole bearing ancillary pentafluorophenyl groups at the 5- and 15-meso positions (DMBil1) is presented. This nonmacrocyclic tetrapyrrole platform is robust and can serve as an excellent ligand scaffold for Zn2+ and Cu2+ centers. X-ray diffraction studies conducted for DMBil1 along with the corresponding Zn[DMBil1] and Cu[DMBil1] complexes show that this ligand scaffold binds a single metal ion within the tetrapyrrole core. Additionally, electrochemical experiments revealed that all three of the aforementioned compounds display an interesting redox chemistry as the DMBil1 framework can be both oxidized and reduced by two electrons. Spectroscopic and photophysical experiments carried out for DMBil1, Zn[DMBil1], and Cu[DMBil1] provide a basic picture of the electronic properties of these platforms. All three biladiene derivatives strongly absorb light in the visible region and are weakly emissive. The ability of these compounds to sensitize the formation of 1O2 at wavelengths longer than 500 nm was probed. Both the free base and Zn2+ 10,10-dimethylbiladiene architectures show modest efficiencies for 1O2 sensitization. The combination of structural, electrochemical, and photophysical data detailed herein provides a basis for the design of additional biladiene constructs for the activation of O2 and other small molecules.

A set polyethylene glycol (PEG) appended BODIPY architectures (BOPEG1 – BOPEG3) have been prepared and studied in CH2Cl2, H2O:CH3CN (1:1) and aqueous solutions. BOPEG1 and BOPEG2 both contain a short PEG chain and differ in substitution about the BODIPY framework. BOPEG3 is comprised of a fully substituted BODIPY moiety linked to a PEG polymer that is roughly 13 units in length. The photophysics and electrochemical properties of these compounds have been thoroughly characterized in CH2Cl2 and aqueous CH3CN solutions. The behavior of BOPEG1 – BOPEG3 correlates with established rules of BODIPY stability based on substitution about the BODIPY moiety. ECL for each of these compounds was also monitored. BOPEG1, which is unsubstituted at the 2- and 6-positions dimerized upon electrochemical oxidation while BOPEG2, which contains ethyl groups at the 2- and 6-positions, was much more robust and served as an excellent ECL luminophore. BOPEG3 is highly soluble in water due to the long PEG tether and demonstrated modest ECL activity in aqueous solutions using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as a coreactant. As such, BOPEG3 represents the first BODIPY derivative that has been shown to display ECL in water without the need for an organic cosolvent, and marks an important step in the development of BODIPY based ECL probes for various biosensing applications.

Harnessing of solar energy to drive the reduction of carbon dioxide to fuels requires the development of efficient catalysts that absorb sunlight. In this work, we detail the synthesis, electrochemistry and photophysical properties of a set of homologous fac-ReI(CO)3 complexes containing either an ancillary phenyl (8) or BODIPY (12) substituent. These studies demonstrate that both the electronic properties of the rhenium center and BODIPY chromophore are maintained for these complexes. Photolysis studies demonstrate that both assemblies 8 and 12 are competent catalysts for the photochemical reduction of CO2 to CO in DMF using triethanolamine (TEOA) as a sacrificial reductant. Both compounds 8 and 12 display TOFs for photocatalytic CO production upon irradiation with light (λex ≥ 400 nm) of ~5 hr−1 with TON values of approximately 20. Although structural and photophysical measurements demonstrate that electronic coupling between the BODIPY and fac-ReI(CO)3 units is limited for complex 12, this work clearly shows that the photoactive BODIPY moiety is tolerated during catalysis and does not interfere with the observed photochemistry. When taken together, these results provide a clear roadmap for the development of advanced rhenium bipyridine complexes bearing ancillary BODIPY groups for the efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO2 using visible light.

monochromated Mo-Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073 Å). Unit cell parameters were obtained from 60 data frames, 0.3° ω, from three different sections of the Ewald sphere. The systematic absences in the data and the unit cell parameters were consistent to Cc and C2/c. Refinement in the centrosymmetric space group yielded stable refinement results. The data-sets were treated with SADABS absorption corrections based on redundant multiscan data. The structures were solved using direct methods and refined with full-matrix, least-squares procedures on F 2. All non-hydrogen atoms were refined with anisotropic displacement parameters. All

A new 5,5-dimethylphlorin derivative (3H(PhlCF3)) was prepared and studied through a combination of redox, photophysical, and computational experiments. The phlorin macrocycle is significantly distorted from planarity compared to more traditional tetrapyrrole architectures and displays solvatochroism in the soret region of the UV–vis spectrum (∼370–420 nm). DFT calculations indicate that this solvatochromic behavior stems from the polarized nature of the frontier orbital (LUMO+1) that is most heavily involved in these transitions. Compound 3H(PhlCF3) also displays an intriguing supramolecular chemistry with certain anions; this phlorin can cooperatively hydrogen-bond two equivalents of fluoride to form 3H(PhlCF3)·2F– but does not bind larger halides such as Cl– or Br–. Analogous studies revealed that the phlorin can hydrogen-bond with carboxylate anions such as acetate to form 1:1 complexes such as 3H(PhlCF3)·OAc–. These supramolecular assemblies are robust and form even in relatively polar solvents such as MeCN. Hydrogen-bonding of fluoride and acetate anions to the phlorin N–H residues significantly attenuates the redox and photophysical properties of the phlorin. Moreover, The ability to independently vary the size and pKa of a series of carboxylate hydrogen-bond acceptors has allowed us to probe how phlorin–anion association is controlled by the anion’s size and/or basicity. These studies elucidate the physical properties and the electronic effects that shape the supramolecular chemistry displayed by the phlorin platform.