We have studied quenching of the fluorescence of the diprotonated form of 3,7,13,17-tetramethyl-2,8,12,18-tetrabutylporphyrin by iodide ions in solutions. We have established that there is both static quenching of fluorescence when nonfluorescent complexes are formed with the iodide ions, as a result of an internal heavy atom effect, and also dynamic diffusion-controlled quenching. Based on analysis of the dependences of the fluorescence intensity and fluorescence lifetime on the iodide ion concentration in solution, we suggest using the diprotonated form of this porphyrin as the base compound for designing a fluorescent molecular receptor for halide ions.Key words: porphyrin, acid-base equilibria, diprotonated form, quenching of fluorescence, halide ion, heavy atom effect.Introduction. Design of new, efficient methods for detecting chemical compounds in various media by using molecular sensors is an important problem in modern science [1]. The physicochemical properties of a compound used as the source of the analytical signal, indicating recognition of a specific substrate, are very important characteristics determining the operating efficiency on the whole of any chemical sensor. The method for transduction of the primary chemical signal to the analytical signal directly used for diagnostics is also important, since it determines how easy it is to manufacture and how convenient it is to use the sensor. The optical method for conversion of the analytical signal is one of the most attractive approaches for a number of reasons. First of all, it can make possible design of remote detection methods, and consequently the measurements are inherently safe; this approach makes real-time measurements relatively simple to set up, etc.Representatives of the class of tetrapyrrole compounds can be used as converters of the primary analytical signal to the optical response of the sensor. They have rather intense fluorescence and/or phosphorescence, which can be used for these purposes. Furthermore, these compounds can also be used as the source of the analytical signal. One of the problems which can be solved using tetrapyrrole compounds is detection of anions in solutions. We know that the protonated forms of tetrapyrrole compounds can form adducts with anions of acids in which the anions form hydrogen bonds with positively charged protons of the porphyrin ring [2][3][4]. We should point out that porphyrins with an expanded macrocycle can also form complexes with anions: sapphyrins, anthraphyrins, rubyrins, etc. [5], which have recently been actively studied with the aim of using them as the basis for designing anion-sensitive materials [5][6][7][8].Recently [9] studies were conducted with the aim of studying the possibility of using protonated porphyrins as receptors for halide ions (Hal -) [9]. The monoprotonated and diprotonated forms of 3,7,13,17-tetramethyl-2,8,12,18-tetrabutylporphyrin were directly titrated with solutions of halide salts, and it was established that in the solutions, the stable complexes H 3 P + ⋅Hal...