Electron transfer within self-assembling cyclic tetramers using chlorophyll-based donor-acceptor building blocks

Victoria L. Gunderson, Amanda L. Smeigh, Chul Hoon Kim, Dick T. Co, Michael R. Wasielewski*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

The synthesis and photoinduced charge transfer properties of a series of Chl-based donor-acceptor triad building blocks that self-assemble into cyclic tetramers are reported. Chlorophyll a was converted into zinc methyl 3-ethylpyrochlorophyllide a (Chl) and then further modified at its 20-position to covalently attach a pyromellitimide (PI) acceptor bearing a pyridine ligand and one or two naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NDI) secondary electron acceptors to give Chl-PI-NDI and Chl-PI-NDI 2. The pyridine ligand within each ambident triad enables intermolecular Chl metal-ligand coordination in dry toluene, which results in the formation of cyclic tetramers in solution, as determined using small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering at a synchrotron source. Femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy of the monomers in toluene-1% pyridine and the cyclic tetramers in toluene shows that the selective photoexcitation of Chl results in intramolecular electron transfer from 1*Chl to PI to form Chl +•-PI -•-NDI and Chl +•-PI -•-NDI 2. This initial charge separation is followed by a rapid charge shift from PI -• to NDI and subsequent charge recombination of Chl +•-PI-NDI -• and Chl +•-PI- (NDI)NDI -• on a 5-30 ns time scale. Charge recombination in the Chl-PI-NDI 2 cyclic tetramer (τ CR = 30 ± 1 ns in toluene) is slower by a factor of 3 relative to the monomeric building blocks (τ CR = 10 ± 1 ns in toluene-1% pyridine). This indicates that the self-assembly of these building blocks into the cyclic tetramers alters their structures in a way that lengthens their charge separation lifetimes, which is an advantageous strategy for artificial photosynthetic systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4363-4372
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume134
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 7 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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