Development of organic materials for light collection and use as primary energy source is a major challenge for the coming decade. Inspired by the efficiency of natural photosynthetic systems in which well ordered pigments assemblies support both light harvesting and conversion processes, chemists tried to mimic these functions with simplified architectures. During this short presentation we will discuss the use of a phenanthroline strapped porphyrin for the development of self assembled multichromophoric arrays for excitonic conduction.
The approach proposed is based on the inclusion of imidazoles within the phenanthrolin cavity of the porphyrin. Using this specific recognition motif, diverse chromophores could be assembled in linear arrays and their photophysical properties studied in detail in solution. The synthesis of self complementary synthons further open the way towards extended supramolecular structures which were studied both in solution and on solid surfaces.
Cluster for Molecular Chemistry » de l’Université Radboud Nimègue (Pays-Bas, Nijmegen)