Synthesis, structure and optical properties of a zinc(II) tetrakis(phenylbutadiynyl)porphyrin

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-12474

A porphyrin complex, zinc(II) tetrakis(phenylbutadiynyl)porphyrin, is constructed through meso-substitution approach, which exhibits remarkable bathochromism in absorption and fluorescent spectrum. Both the Q bands in the absorption spectrum and the emission band are red-shifted to the saturated red region. The theoretical analysis showed that the meso-phenylbutadiynyl groups significantly extended the π-conjugation from the porphyrin core to the meso aryl groups.

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-12-12474

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 8, 2012
1987
HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 8, 2012, pp. 1987 - 1996. © 2012 The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 25th March, 2012, Accepted, 26th June, 2012, Published online, 29th June, 2012
DOI: 10.3987/COM-12-12474
SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF A ZINC(II)
TETRAKIS(PHENYLBUTADIYNYL)PORPHYRIN
Liu-tao Yang,1 Di Wu,*1 Hai-feng Xiang,1 Xiang-ge Zhou,1 and Yue-fei Deng*2
1 College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 610064 Chengdu, China; E-mail:
wood@scu.edu.cn
2 Department of Neurosurgery, The Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun
Yat-Sen University, 510120 Guangzhou, China
Abstract – A porphyrin complex, zinc(II) tetrakis(phenylbutadiynyl)porphyrin, is
constructed through meso-substitution approach, which exhibits remarkable
bathochromism in absorption and fluorescent spectrum. Both the Q bands in the
absorption spectrum and the emission band are red-shifted to the saturated red
region. The theoretical analysis showed that the meso-phenylbutadiynyl groups
significantly extended the π-conjugation from the porphyrin core to the meso aryl
groups.
Porphyrins have peculiar optical and electronic properties that allow them to play important roles in a
variety of potential applications for solar cell dyes,1 photodynamic therapy,2 sensor,3 and so forth, and
have been received great efforts. Among these efforts, the bathochromism of the absorption bands is one
of the important goals.
It is generally believed that the addition of π-electron subunits can generate red shifts of the electronic
spectra. Expanding porphyrin core,4 fusion and substitution of aryl rings at β-pyrrol position5 are reported
to be effective approaches to expand π-conjugation. However, because of the spatial limitation around
porphyrin core, with the insertion of π-electron (and thereof bulky) groups, all of the efforts have come to
a hard-to-overcome problem of large hindrance and hence large distortion of porphyrin plane, which lead
to the extreme difficulties in synthesizing and strong inclination to decompose.3c,6 On the other sides,
meso-aryl-substituents cannot work so well on the spectral bathochromism due to the obvious dihedral
and therefore π-breakage between meso-phenyl rings and porphyrin core in the case of tetra-phenyl
porphyrin (TPP). Introducing π-bridges, such as ethyne,7 polyyne,8 ethylene9 and aromatic entities,10 can
solve the problem so well that the π-system can extend to the aryl rings on the opposite side of the

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 8, 2012
π-bridges. What is more, such approach can contribute a lot to solving the hindrance problem faced in all
the other approaches mentioned above. However, in contrast to the intensive studies of TPP11 and the
achievements around core-expanded, aryl-fused porphyrins, the studies on the meso-ethynyl substituted
porphyrin are relatively rare.7b,7c,12 A meso-tetrakis(phenylethynyl)porphyrin (3) has been reported, whose
absorption bands are significantly red-shifted compared with that of the Zn(II) tetraphenylporphyrin
(ZnTPP, 1).12,13 How would it be if more ethynyl groups are inserted into the meso-π-bridge? Here we
describe the synthesis and spectroscopic properties of the Zn(II) 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(phenylbutadiynyl)
porphyrin (4). The theoretical studies were performed to provide more insight into the effects of alkynyl
on electronic properties.
The key step in the synthetic approach to the target compound 4 is the reaction of
meso-tetraethynylporphyrin (2) and phenylbromoethyne through Sonogashira coupling (Scheme 1) with
moderate yield.12 The solution in THF and solid of 4 is green and blue, respectively. Phenylbromoethyne
was prepared according to the literature method.14
Scheme 1. Synthesis of porphyrin 4
The chemical structure of 4 was identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectrum. 1H NMR spectrum showed the
expected eight proton resonances at 8.97 ppm as a singlet for the β-pyrrole-Hs, and 20 proton resonances
13
divided into three parts around 7.42-7.80 ppm for the phenyl-Hs. C NMR spectrum gave 11 peaks in
agreement with the expectation of proposed structure for 4.
Spectroscopic properties
The red-shifted absorption and emission spectra of porphyrin 4 indicate the expansion of π-conjugation
system. As shown in Figure 1 and Table 1, the electron spectrum exhibits characteristic porphyrin
absorptions: a sharp Soret band at 491 nm and two Q bands in the lower energy region. Unlike the usually

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 8, 2012
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weak Q00 bands for the porphyrins, the intensity of Q00 band for 4 is exceptionally high with a large
absorption coeffient of 1.95×104 L·mol-1·cm-1, due to the large splitting of the HOMO and HOMO-1
band.15 It is worth mentioning that the Q00 bands(corresponding to the S0→S1 transition) and the S1→S0
emission band were both remarkably red-shifted into the saturated red region (690 and 697 nm), which
make 4 emit bright red fluorescence with a quantum yield of 1.8% under UV lamp. The bands of 4 are
significantly red-shifted compared to that of the reference porphyrins as seen in Table 1. By symmetrical
inserting four C≡C groups between phenyl groups and porphyrin core with respect to porphyrin 3, the
Soret band was further red-shifted by 14 nm, and the Q-band by 11 nm. These can be evidences that a
larger π-system is formed.
Figure 1. Absorption (green) and normalized fluorescent emission (red) spectra of porphyrin 4 in THF
Note that this large π-conjugated porphyrin is constructed in the approach of meso-substitution.
π-conjugated porphyrins have been reported through all kinds of ways from fusion of aryl rings to core
expansion. A core-expanded dodecaphyrin (604 nm for Soret band)16 and a core-expanded and
phenanthrene-fused six-membered ring, hexaphyrin (597 nm for Soret band)3c can serve as good
examples. However, the steric hindrances around porphyrins ineglectably hamper the construction of
large porphyrin rings. In this reason, the molecular structures have to distort remarkably out of the plane
in order to make space for the newly inserted groups at the cost of both the bathochromism of electronic
spectra and stability, which leads to the difficulties coming across the synthesis, purifications,
measurements, reservations and further applications. The inserting C≡C groups can push the meso-phenyl

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 8, 2012
groups far away from the close nearby positions around porphyrin core where fusion aryl groups are
generally crowded, so that benefit in the planarity of porphyrin in larger π-system of porphyrins, and
consequently result in further red shift of the spectra.
It is interesting to further ascertain the roles of C≡C groups. They act as 1) π-bridges so that the π-system
can be expanded from porphyrin core to the other end of the π-bridges, and meanwhile 2) donors of two
π-electrons for each ethynyl group, which contribute in a certain amount to π-expansion. In most cases,
the spectral variation from 1 to 3 as instance, the B-band gives a red shift of 55 nm, which can be
attributed to the composition of the two factors mentioned above. However, in the case of those from 3 to
4, the B-band has a bathochromism of only 14 nm. We can infer that the main contribution of C≡C
groups is not electron donation but the π-system communication in that four C≡C groups can donate the
same amount of π-electrons in the variation from 1 to 3 and from 3 to 4, while they differ mainly in the
aspect that the meso-phenyl groups change obviously in their position from 1 to 3, but subliminally from
3 to 4. The crystal structure may help manifest the inference, but we are not so lucky to get the crystal
probably due to its poor stability. The theoretical optimization can be an alternate.
Table 1. Absorption and emission data for porphyrins
Porphyrins
B-Band/nm (lgε)
422 (5.79)
Q-Band/nm (lgε)
553(4.41), 595(4.00)
597 (4.38), 643 (4.29)
625(4.39), 679(4.97)
636(2.74), 690(4.29)
λem/nm
596, 647
-
688, 758
697
Stokes shift/nm
114
27c
313
4
1
-
9
7
452 (5.84)
477(5.88)
491(5.08)
1: ZnTPP 3: Zn(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenylethynyl)porphyrin
Computational Details
To gain more insight into the effect of alkynyl groups on molecular structures and electronic properties of
these porphyrins, quantum chemical studies were carried out applying density functional theory (DFT) at
B3LYP/6-31G* level for porphyrin 4 and the reference porphyrins. All theoretical calculations were
performed without considering the influence of solvation.

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 85, No. 8, 2012
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The optimized molecular structures are displayed in Figure 2. Alkynyl bridges can substantially affect
the molecular structures. Firstly, without alkynyl groups, the 24 atoms in the porphyrin core deviate from
a plane by 0.052 Å (Table 2), while with more or less C≡C triple bonds inserted, porphyrin cores can stay
exactly in the same planes(0.00 Å for RMS deviation). Secondly, the average dihedrals between the
meso-aryl substituents and the plane of porphyrin core obviously decrease with the insertion of alkynyl
groups. In contrast to the nearly perpendicular (70.15o as shown in Table 2) position of phenyl rings to
the plane of porphyrin core in the case of 1, porphyrin 3 and 4 have the dihedral of only 0.40 o and 0.18 o
respectively. The more alkynyl groups, the smaller the angles are, which indicates that the C≡C triple
bonds can contribute a lot to the planarity of the whole molecules. This can be explained in a way that
with the interval of C≡C bridges, repulsive force along with the steric hindrance between meso-phenly
groups can be reduced and the phenyl rings can easily turn back into the plane of porphyrins for the
purpose of sharing π-obitals and lowering the energy.
Top View(1)
Top view(2)
Top View(3)
Top View(4)
Side View(1)
Side view(2)
Side View(3)
Side View(4)
Figuer 2. Top and side views for the fully optimized structure of 1, 2, 3 and 4, H atoms are omitted for
the clarity.

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Table 2. Dihedral angles for porphyrins
1
2
0.00
-
3
4
RMS Deviation (Å) a
Dihedral b
0.052
70.15
0.00
0.40
0.00
0.18
a
RMS Deviation of 24 core atoms from the plane of porphyrin core; b Defined as the angles between mean plane of porphyrin core
determined by 24 core atoms and those of phenyl groups (if exist).
Figuer 3. Molecular orbital patterns of porphyrins with geometries of each molecule optimized at the
B3LYP/6-31G* level of DFT theory

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Consequently, the electronic distribution has been greatly affected by the addition of C≡C triple bonds.
Through these effective π-bridges, phenyl rings can share electrons on their π-obitals with the large
π-system of porphyrin and electrons can communicate easily. The increasing electronic probability
densities can be found on the phenyl rings in porphyrin in the sequence of 1, 2, 3 and 4, as can be seen in
Figure 3, which can serve as good evidence. Thus we can conclude that a larger π-system is formed
through the approach of meso-substitution.
Figure 4. Orbital energy levels of porphyrin 4 and reference porphyrins
In conclusion, we have successfully synthesized a enlarged π-conjugated porphyrin 4 through
meso-substitution approach. The new compound exhibits large red shifts of Soret and Q-bands compared
with that of porphyrins 1 and 3. There is an intensified and red-shifted Q00 band for 4 centered at
saturated red region of 690 nm. The fluorescent band was also red-shifted to 697 nm. The optical spectra
along with theoretical analysis showed that the meso-phenylbutadiynyl groups significantly extend the
π-conjugation of the porphyrin core. Besides the π-electron donation, C≡C triple bonds can overcome the
steric hindrance usually happened in meso-tetraayrlporphyrins, so that the π-system can extend far away
to the meso aryl groups. This may result in a possibility to arrange more groups around porphyrin core
without overcrowding and therefore avoid the distortion of the porphyrin plane, which may benefit to the
further bathochromism of the optical spectra. The energy level of porphyrin 4 was stabilized, and

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simultaneously the energy gap was narrowed. These properties may have the potential applications in the
saturated red dye needed fields such as dye-sensitized solar cells, fluorescent bioimaging and
photodynamic therapy.17
EXPERIMENTAL
13
1H NMR spectra and C NMR were recorded with Bruker Avance-400 spectrometers, respectively. The
UV-vis absorption and fluorescent spectrum are detected by UV-765 UV-vis spectrophotometer
(Shanghai Precision Scientific Instrument Co., Ltd) and Hitachi F-4500 fluorescent emission
spectrometer, respectively. MALDI-TOF spectra were obtained on Brucker Daltonics Alphaflex II
instrument using anthracene or cinnamic acid matrices. Melting point was measured with a Yanaco
M500-D melting point apparatus.
Meso-tetraethynylporphyrin (2) was obtained according to published method.7c Other reagents and
solvents were received from the respective commercial suppliers; solvents were purified according to
standard procedures.
Zinc tetrakis(phenylbutadiynyl)porphyrin (4). To a degassed dry THF solution (100 mL) of
phenylbromoethyne (380 mg, 2.1 mmol), porphyrin 2 (100 mg, 0.21 mmol), (Pd (PPh3)2Cl2) (13 mg, 16
μmol), CuI (3 mg, 16 μmol) and Et3N (48 mL) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room
temperature for 18 h. The solvent was evaporated to dryness under vacuum. The product was purified by
recrystallizing from a mixture of THF and MeOH to give a pure solid (63 mg, 34%). Mp 288292 °C
(decomp.). UV-vis (THF): λmax (ε×105) = 491 (1.197), 636 (0.055), 690 (0.195) nm; 1H NMR (400 MHz,
DMSO-d6), δH = 8.97 (s, 8H, pyrrole-H), 7.80 (d, 8H, J = 7.2 Hz, Ar-H), 7.517.55 (t, 4H, Ar-H),
13
7.427.45 (t, 8H, Ar-H); C NMR (100 MHz, THF-d8), δC = 149.66, 130.72, 128.94, 128.67, 127.35,
126.73, 126.66, 120.32, 99.12, 81.96, 73.13. MALDI-TOF mass (C60H28N4Zn): 869.28 [MH]+.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project is sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 20901052, J1103315/J0104,
30971070) and the Sichuan Provincial Foundation (08ZQ026-041). We also thank Prof. Dan Xiao in
Sichuan University for fluorescence test.
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