Synthesis and characterization of porphyrin-ferrocene-fullerene triads

Novel porphyrin-fullerene systems linked by ferrocene and related model compounds were successfully synthesized and characterized. Conformationally flexible 1,1′-disubstituted ferrocene functioned as effective modulator of the conformation between porphyrin and fullerene, as ¹H NMR spectra indicated, the porphyrin and C₆₀ moieties in the triads showed gauche type conformation. The electrochemical and photophysical studies showed that there were considerable interactions between porphyrin and fullerene in the ground state due to intramolecular π-stacking of the these two chromophores, assisted by the ferrocence linker. Fluorescence lifetime measurements indicated there might be two different quenching processes occurring simultaneously (intersystem crossing and electron transfer).