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The synthesis of a series of novel tetra-(benzo-24-crown-8)-phthalocyanines (Mg(II), Ni(II) and Co(II)) as well as a modified procedure for the free-base ligand and its Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes are reported. The tendency of these phthalocyanines to undergo supramolecular cofacial dimerization induced by interaction with a viologen ([Formula: see text]-di(but-3-ynyl)-4,4[Formula: see text]-bipyridinium) was investigated by UV-vis absorption and EPR spectral studies in solution. The nature of the metal cation in phthalocyanine, the concentration, as well as the solvent all influenced the assembly processes.

Single-molecule junctions (SMJs) have been fabricated using layers generated by diazonium electroreduction. This process creates a C-Au covalent bond between the molecule and the electrode. Rigid oligomers of variable length, based on porphyrin derivatives in their free base or cobalt complex forms, have been grafted on the surface. The conductance of the oligomers has been studied by a scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STM-bj) technique and G(t) measurements, and the lifetime of the SMJs has been investigated. The conductance histograms indicate that charge transport in the porphyrins is relatively efficient and influenced by the presence of the cobalt center. With both systems, random telegraph G(t) signals are easily recorded, showing SMJ on/off states. The SMJs then stabilize and exhibit a surprisingly long lifetime around 10 s, and attenuation plots, obtained by both G(t) and STM-bj measurements, give identical values. This work shows that highly stable SMJs can be prepared using a diazonium grafting approach.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) can act as unique reservoirs for multiple electron transfers. As POMs display only weak absorption in the visible spectrum, they can be associated with chromophores such as porphyrins and porphyrin antennae. In this Minireview, the research dedicated to the combination of porphyrins and polyoxometalates is put in context and the state of the art identifying the challenges addressed in the optimization of hybrid materials for applications is detailed.

International audience; Developing efficient noble metal-free systems for electrocatalysis and the reduction of oxygen (ORR) is crucial for hydrogen economy. Bioinspired hybrids combining iron or copper/iron porphyrins with multiwalled carbon nanotubes were tested for ORR using a rotating ring-disk electrode at pH 13 to 8. The porphyrin-nanotube hybrids exhibited better electrocatalytic properties than their constituents alone due to the electrical network formed by the nanotubes, and they reduced oxygen via a four-electron pathway to produce water. Whereas the presence of Cu was not mandatory to reduce oxygen, its presence improved ORR activity and decreased the overpotential compared to monometalic (iron porphyrin) hybrids.; La conception de matériaux sans métaux nobles pour la réaction de réduction de l'oxygène (ORR) est cruciale pour le développement d'une économie basée sur l'hydrogène. Ici, des matériaux hybrides bioinspirés à base de porphyrines métallées et de nanotubes de carbone multi-parois ont été testés pour l'ORR avec un système d'électrode disque-anneau entre pH 8 et 13. Les matériaux hybrides présentent systématiquement de meilleures propriétés électrocatalytiques que celles de leurs constituants pris individuellement et permettent de réduire l'oxygène par un processus à quatre électrons. La présence du cuivre dans les hybrides n'est pas obligatoire mais elle améliore légèrement les propriétés électrocatalytiques.

A water soluble, phenanthroline-strapped zinc porphyrin bearing four arylsulfonate groups formed a stable host–guest complex with two per-[Formula: see text]-methylated [Formula: see text]-cyclodextrin cavities. In the host–guest assembly, the zinc porphyrin was capable of binding imidazole within the cavity between the zinc(II) ion and the phenanthroline strap in an aqueous medium. The formation of a hydrogen bond between the imidazole NH and the nitrogen atoms of the phenanthroline was an essential element of the binding event, as shown by comparative binding studies with a non-strapped tetrasulfonated zinc porphyrin and with [Formula: see text]-methylimidazole. This hydrogen bonding in an aqueous medium was possible due to the protected hydrophobic environment created by the cyclodextrins around the phenanthroline strap. This type of binding event may provide a biomimetic approach to study water soluble heme protein models.

Commercial 4,4'-bipyridine is a popular scaffold that is primarily employed as a linker in 3D self-assembled architectures such as metallo-organic frameworks or as a connector in 2D networks. The introduction of alkyl substituents on the bipyridine skeleton is instrumental when 4,4'-bipyridines are used as linkers to form 2D self-assembled patterns on surfaces. Here, several synthetic strategies to access 4,4'-bipyridines functionalized at various positions are described. These easily scalable reactions have been used to introduce a range of alkyl substituents at positions 2 and 2' or 3 and 3' and at positions 2,2' and 6,6' in the case of tetra-functionalization. Scanning tunneling microscopy studies of molecular monolayers physisorbed at the graphite-solution interface revealed different supramolecular patterns whose motifs are primarily dictated by the nature and position of the alkyl chains.

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Physical properties of magnetic nanostructures and devices strongly depend on the morphological characteristics of their various components. This is especially true and becomes particularly complex in hybrid nanostructures, where soft organic molecules are at the vicinity of ferromagnetic metallic films. The supramolecular architecture of molecular films embedded between iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) layers, has been investigated by ferromagnetic nuclear resonance (FNR). In such sample architecture, the presence of pin holes in the organic layers is detected by FNR contributions in a specific spectral range. The methodology that has been developed allows probing the continuity and packing of zinc tetra-phenyl porphyrin (ZnTPP) molecular films between the Co and Fe films. The experimental results suggest that, regardless of the nature of the ferromagnetic under-layer, at least 15 monolayers of ZnTPP are necessary to form continuous and pin-hole free molecular films. In addition, quantitative analyses show that ZnTPP layers exhibit distinct morphologies that are dependent on the nature of the ferromagnetic metallic under-layer.

The reactivity of porphyrin radical cationic species derived from octaethyl porphyrin (OEP) or meso-aryl porphyrins with nucleophiles, envisioned as an access route to elaborate porphyrin dimers, has been studied and optimized in the case of OEP. Standardized conditions have been applied to various spacers to show that the success of the reaction is mostly nucleophile dependent and that the method has little chances to yield non-linear bis-porphyrins.

International audience; The association of hydrophobic cavities with porphyrin derivatives has been used to mimic haemoproteinstructures. The most employed cavity in this field is b-cyclodextrin (b-CD) and scaffolds combining beta-CDs and porphyrinsare expected to inspire the combination of porphyrins and cucurbiturils in a near future. Aside from providing watersolubility to various porphyrinic structures, the beta-CD framework can also modulate and control the reactivity of the metalcore of the porphyrin. After a general introduction of the challenges faced in the field of haemoprotein models and thebinding behavior of beta-CDs, the article will discuss covalent and non-covalent association of porphyrins with beta-CDs. In eachapproach, the role of the CD differs according to the relative position of the concave CD host, either directly controlling thebinding and transformation of a substrate on the metalloporphyrin or playing a dual role of controlling the water solubilityand selecting the axial ligand of the metal core. The discussion will be of interest to the cucurbituril community as well asto the cavitand community as the information provided should be useful for the design of haemoprotein mimics usingcucurbiturils (CBs).

A new complex of oxovanadium, VOL has been synthesized from Schiff base ligand obtained by the condensation of o-phenylenediamine and 5-bromo-salicylaldehyde. All new compounds have been characterized by 1H NMR, IR spectra, UV–Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. The molar conductance data revealed that the metal complex is a non-electrolyte. Thermal analysis techniques (TGA/DTA) of the ligand and the complex were performed. The proposed structures for the free ligand and the corresponding vanadium complex were corroborated by the use of geometry optimization and conformational analysis. The solid state structure of complex VOL was fully determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Similar electrochemical behavior for both the ligand and the corresponding complex have been observed by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The complex gave a metal-based one-electron quasi-reversible redox couple at 606 mV/SCE corresponding to the VOIV/VOV redox process which was consistent with the hydrodynamic voltammograms. Additional peaks in the CVs that were growing with the scan rate have been attributed to consecutive one-electron reduction of the ligand. The catalytic activity of the oxovanadium Schiff base complex VOL was tested in the oxidation reaction of cyclohexene. The efficiency of the catalyst was influenced by the nature of the oxidant. The results showed that the complex was highly active and selective for cyclohexenone in optimized conditions.

Porphyrin derivatives are highly relevant to biological processes such as light harvesting and charge separation. Their aromatic electronic structure and their accessible HOMO−LUMO gap render porphyrins highly attractive for the development of opto- and electro-active materials. Due to the often difficult covalent synthesis of multiporphyrins, self-assembly using metal complexation as the driving force can lead to well defined objects exhibiting a controlled morphology, which will be required to analyse and understand the electronic properties of porphyrin wires. This article presents two assembly approaches, namely by peripheral coordination or by binding to a metal ion in the porphyrin core, that are efficient and well designed for future developments requiring interactions with a surface.

The structure-property relationships were compared for the iron and iron-copper complexes of two functional cytochrome c oxidase models, 1 and 2 , both constructed upon a phenanthroline-strapped porphyrin bearing respectively pyridyl or picolinyl built-in proximal and distal ligands. The behavior of these heme models in the absence and in the presence of copper was studied by 1 H NMR, UV–visible absorption, EPR, Raman and FTIR spectroscopies, electrochemistry in solution and deposited on a rotating ring-disk graphite electrode. The distal binding site within the phenanthroline pocket of both 1 and 2 is available for the coordination of exogenic ligands, yet the oxygen binding affinity is higher for all complexes of 2 than for 1 . Despite this difference, [ 1Fe II Cu I ] more efficiently reproduced the electrocatalyzed reduction of oxygen to water than [ 2Fe II Cu I ]. The oxygenated complexes of both iron(II)-copper(I) species mimic the ability of cytochrome c oxidase to reversibly bind O 2 , as shown by competitive binding studies in the presence of CO. Differences in the binding and electrocatalytic properties of these models stem from difference in rigidity of scaffolds upon binding of both the proximal and distal ligands, as well as from the bulkiness of the distal ligand.

Two novel manganese (III) and iron (III) complexes of an N,N-bis(1-naphthalidimine)-o phenylene diamine ligand have been successfully synthesized and characterized by various analytical techniques including single crystal X-ray structure analysis. The ligand crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P21/c. The detailed analyses of Hirschfeld surface and fingerprint plots provide insight into the nature of non-covalent interactions in the ligand. Experimental data have been complemented and interpreted in the light of Density Functional Theory calculation was performed using the B3LYP method concerning molecular geometries, vibrational frequencies and electrochemical potentials. Cyclic voltammetry in dimethylformamide revealed reversible redox processes in both complexes, suggesting possible catalytic reactivity involving electron transfer process for these complexes. The catalytic efficiency and selectivity of manganese (III) and iron (III) complexes was tested in the oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen. The results show that the catalytic performance depends on the nature of metal, the most efficient catalyst in the presence of O2beingthe iron (III) complex. A plausible mechanism for cyclohexene oxidation by complexes is proposed and discussed hereafter.

The synthesis of a porphyrin rotaxane by dipolar cycloaddition takes advantage of the ditopic character of a phenanthroline-strapped porphyrin. The success of the click reaction was conditioned by the presence of both a coordinatively unsaturated metal in the porphyrin and a copper(I) bound to the phenanthroline, pointing at a new “tandem active metal template” mechanism.

In Nature, the various properties of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles are mostly due to their proteic environment and result from an evolutionary process difficult to reproduce in the lifetime of a synthetic chemist. Thus, the task of synthetic chemists attempting to reproduce the biological role of porphyrin architectures performing functions from catalysis to light harvesting is significantly complicated. This account describes how a phenanthroline-strapped porphyrin architecture initially designed to afford new hemoprotein models led, over the last two decades, to the preparation of highly linear self-assembled nano-objects inspired by light-harvesting architectures. The approach summarized in the next pages mimics, in a very modest way, the polyvalence of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles in Nature.

The lifetime of a charge separated state is enhanced by the effects of solvent polarity and the coordination controlled shuttling of a dumbbell in a porphyrin/fullerene rotaxane., We present the synthesis of novel rotaxanes based on mechanically interlocked porphyrins and fullerene and their advanced investigations by means of photophysical measurements. To this end, a fullerene-capped dumbbell-type axle containing a central triazole was threaded through strapped (metallo)porphyrins—either a free-base or a zinc porphyrin. Femtosecond-resolved transient absorption measurements revealed charge-separation between the porphyrin and fullerene upon light excitation. Solvent polarity and solvent coordination effects induced molecular motion of the rotaxanes upon charge separation and enabled, for the first time, subtle control over the charge recombination by enabling and controlling the directionality of shuttling.

International audience; Bis(zinc porphyrin) scaffolds bearing C8 or C18 alkyl chains and imidazole end groups self‐assembled in a head‐to‐tail fashion into multi‐porphyrin assemblies on both HOPG and mica. Due to weaker molecule surface‐interactions, longer arrays formed on mica than on HOPG. In both cases, it was essential first to generate monomers that were drop casted on the surface, then to allow time for the bis(zinc porphyrins) to assemble. Although thicker fibrous assemblies were observed with the C8 alkyl substituents than with the longer chains, noncovalent assemblies up to 1 μm long were observed for each molecule. These investigations provide a reproducible, noncovalent method to grow porphyrin arrays that may be of interest in molecular electronics for charge transport.

The oxovanadium (IV) complex “VOL” of a tetradentate Schiff base ligand derived from the condensation of diaminoethane and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde was efficiently prepared via ultrasound irradiation and the template effect of VO(acac)2. The resulting product was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, electronic absorption and molar conductance measurement. Single X-ray structure analysis showed that the complex is a monomeric five-coordinate with a distorted square pyramidal geometry. It crystallizes in monoclinic system having unit cell parameters a = 8.3960 (5) A; b = 12.5533 (8) A and c = 18.7804 (11) A; α = γ = 90°; β = 104.843°(2), with P 21/c space group. Cyclic voltammetry of the complex, carried out on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode in DMF, showed reversible cyclic voltammograms response in the potential range 0.15–0.60 V involving a single electron redox wave VV/VIV, the diffusion coefficient is determinedusing GC rotating disk electrode. The Levich plot Ilim = f(ω1/2), was used to calculate the diffusion-convection controlled currents.

Two types of porphyrin copolymer thin films were obtained by electropolymerization of zinc-5,15-bis(p-tolyl)porphyrin. Electrogenerated porphyrin radical cation and dication are powerful electrophiles which can rapidly react with 1,1″-(1,3-propanediyl)bis-4,4′-bipyridinium hexafluorophosphate salt (bpy+–(CH2)3–+bpy·2PF6−) as nucleophiles to form copolymers containing stable isoporphyrin radicals or porphyrins, depending of the applied upper potential limit (1.0 V versus 1.6 V). Electrochemical routes leading to these electroactive copolymers are discussed and the unusual redox properties of copolymers containing stable isoporphyrin radicals are studied. The electropolymerization of the two copolymers was monitored by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The copolymers were characterized by UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemistry, electron spin resonance (ESR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Their electrical properties have been studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and their photovoltaic performances have been investigated by photocurrent transient measurements under visible-NIR light irradiation. The isoporphyrin radical copolymer exhibited considerably better photocurrent generation when compared to the porphyrin copolymer.

A bromonium oxidizing agent was used to produce a ring-oxidized zinc phthalocyanine (PcZn), [PcZn(solvent)]•2[BArF4]2 (1·solvent), in good yield. This material is dimeric in the solid state with one axially coordinated solvent [tetrahydrofuran (THF) or 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME)] and close intradimer ring–ring distances of 3.18 and 3.136 A (THF and DME respectively); this proximity facilitates strong antiferromagnetic coupling to yield diamagnetic dimers. 1·THF is present in solution as a monomer and a dimer. In CH2Cl2, the dimer is favored above 0.1 mM, and it is almost exclusively present in solvents with a high dielectric constant such as acetonitrile. The material 1·THF/DME decomposes in DME to a meso-nitrogen-protonated species, [HPcZn(DME)2][BArF4] (2), which was isolated and represents the first example of such a structurally characterized, protonated, unsubstituted PcM complex. A partially oxidized dimer or “pimer” [(PcZn(DME))2]•[BArF4] (3) was also structurally characterized and has a intradimer ...

International audience; Four tetradithienylethene (DTE) substituted porphyrins, the free base 1H(2), and three metal derivatives (1Zn, 1Co, 1Ni), were synthesized and studied. These dyads, for which the DTE units are connected to the porphyrin's meso positions via a meta-phenyl spacer, exhibit reversible photochromic properties in all cases, with conversion to the photostationary state (PSS) up to 88%, as confirmed by absorption and NMR spectroscopies. Compounds1H(2) and 1Zn are fluorescent in solution and display a red emission. Upon irradiation with UV light to trigger the closing of the DTEs, the fluorescence of both the free base and zinc porphyrin was very efficiently quenched in solution. The reversible, photo-switching of luminescence was retained in a tetra-DTE free-base porphyrin-doped polystyrene film, for which photo-patterning was demonstrated by confocal scanning microscopy. The tunable fluorescent properties of this multi-DTE framework render this compound of interest as a photo-rewritable fluorescent ink.

Functionalization of a methylviologen with four methyl ester substituents significantly facilitates the first two reduction steps. The easily generated radical cation shows markedly improved air stability compared to the parent methylviologen, making this derivative of interest in organic electronic applications.

The O2 adduct of an aqueous synthetic heme/copper model system built on a porphyrin/cyclodextrin supramolecular complex has been characterized., In mitochondria, cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) catalyses the reduction of oxygen (O2) to water by using a heme/copper hetero-binuclear active site. Here we report a highly efficient supramolecular approach for the construction of a water-soluble biomimetic model for the active site of CcO. A tridentate copper(ii) complex was fixed onto 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(iii) (FeIIITPPS) through supramolecular complexation between FeIIITPPS and a per-O-methylated β-cyclodextrin dimer linked by a (2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridyl)copper(ii) complex (CuIITerpyCD2). The reduced FeIITPPS/CuITerpyCD2 complex reacted with O2 in an aqueous solution at pH 7 and 25 °C to form a superoxo-type FeIII–O2–/CuI complex in a manner similar to CcO. The pH-dependent autoxidation of the O2 complex suggests that water molecules gathered at the distal Cu site are possibly involved in the FeIII–O2–/CuI superoxo complex in an aqueous solution. Electrochemical analysis using a rotating disk electrode demonstrated the role of the FeTPPS/CuTerpyCD2 hetero-binuclear structure in the catalytic O2 reduction reaction.

The ability of three bis-viologen cyclophanes to act as redox-triggered contractile switches is investigated. Odd/even effects in the formation of cyclic bis-viologens are circumvented by the use of a Zincke salt intermediate and a tetrathiafulvalene template to prepare a flexible cyclophane with hexyl linkers. Comparative spectro-electrochemical studies of this macrocycle with two other pentyl- or heptyl-linked cyclic bis-viologens show that the development of intramolecular interactions in aqueous solution depends on the length of the bridges. This dependence is confirmed by EPR and DFT studies of the magnetic coupling in the diradical dication species. The anti-ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic nature of the coupling depend, respectively, on the odd or even number of methylene groups in the spacer.

A phenanthroline-strapped porphyrin bearing two pyridine side arms attached to opposite meso positions was designed as a potential cytochrome c oxidase model and its zinc and copper(I)-zinc complexes were prepared. In the zinc porphyrin complex, the pyridine arms underwent a rapid exchange of their coordination to the zinc atom on the open face of the strapped-porphyrin, as demonstrated by variable temperature NMR studies. Only the β2 atropoisomer was observed for the zinc complex because of the rapid exchange. This swinging motion no longer occurred when Cu I was bound within the phenanthroline strap. In this Cu I / Zn II complex, the αβ atropoisomer predominated and one pyridine was coordinated to the zinc atom on the proximal side and the other pyridine was bound to the copper on the distal face. This work shows that allostery can be effective to control atropoisomery in phenanthroline strapped porphyrin as heme protein models.

Energy collection in photosynthetic microorganisms occurs through vectorial energy transfer along organized assemblies of chromophores. This process has inspired many research groups and yielded numerous examples of self-assembled photoactive structures. Dye sensitization of solar cells usually requires covalent anchoring of dyes onto the surface of metal oxides. A new porphyrin derivative that self-assembles upon non-covalent interaction with a surface has been designed and characterized by AFM. Interaction with metal oxide surfaces is further documented by the sensitization of metal oxide surfaces and the generation of photocurrent in non-optimized dye sensitized solar cells.

The preparation of porphyrins functionalized with one or two carbazoles (or phenoxazines) is described. The electron donors were introduced into one or two porphyrin meso positions by using the inexpensive Ullmann coupling procedure. Very good yields were obtained, and for two new compounds, the X-ray structures were solved. Preliminary electrochemical data coupled with electronic spectroscopy are also reported.

An efficient noncovalent assembly process involving high geometrical control was applied to a linear bis(imidazolyl zinc porphyrin) 7Zn, bearing C(18) substitutents, to generate linear multiporphyrin wires. The association process is based on imidazole recognition within the cavity of the phenanthroline-strapped zinc porphyrin. In chlorinated solvents, discrete soluble oligomers were obtained after (7Zn)(n) was end-capped with a terminal single imidazolyl zinc porphyrin derivative 4Zn. These soluble species, as well as their destabilization in the presence of protic solvents, were studied by UV-visible and time-resolved luminescence. In the solid state, assemblies as long as 480 nm, which corresponds to 190 iterative units or a total of 380 porphyrins, were observed by atomic force microscopy measurements on mica. The length and linearity of the porphyrin wires obtained illustrate the potential of phenanthroline-strapped porphyrins for the directional control of self-assembly processes.

Yellow crystals of [Zn(N,N′-bis (5-bromosalicylidene) 2,3-diaminopyridine)] Pyridine, [Zn(C19H11Br2N3O2)]C5H5N, have been obtained and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The structure has been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with two molecules in the asymmetric unit and with unit cell dimensions a = 8.0103(3) A, b = 12.8340(5) A, c = 22.3682(11) A, α = 91.715(2)°, β = 93.918(2)°, γ = 103.708(2)°. V = 2226.30(16) A3, Z = 4, R 1 = 0.0780 and wR 2 = 0.1192. X-ray structure determination revealed that the complex consists of a [Zn(C19H11Br2N3O2)] moiety with a coordinated pyridine molecule on the metallic centre. The zinc atom adopts a distorted square pyramidal geometry as it is shown in the crystal structure. A single crystal description of a unsymmetrical structure, spectroscopic and characterization with 2D NMR ROESY spectrum

Accessible and hindered phenanthroline-strapped Zn(II) porphyrin receptors exhibited suitable topography tailored to strongly and selectively bind N(1)-unsubstituted imidazoles and imidazoles appended to free-base porphyrins. Distal binding was clearly driven by the formation of strong bifurcated hydrogen bonds with the phenanthroline unit of the receptors. An extensive physicochemical study emphasized the influence of bulkiness of the substrate and of the porphyrin receptor on the binding and self-assembly mechanism. Knowledge of the corresponding spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and kinetic data were of fundamental importance to elucidate and to model the photoinduced properties which occur within the self-assembled porphyrin dyads.

Two self-complementary phenanthroline-strapped porphyrins bearing imidazole arms and C 12 or C 18 alkyl chains were synthesized, and their surface self-assembly was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) on mica and highly ordered pyrrolitic graphite (HOPG). Upon zinc(II) complexation, stable porphyrin dimers formed, as confirmed by DOSY (1)H NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy. In solution, the dimers formed J-aggregates. AFM studies of the solutions dip-coated onto mica or drop-casted onto HOPG revealed that the morphologies of the assemblies formed were surface-tuned. On mica, fiber-like assemblies of short stacks of J-aggregates were observed. The strong influence of the mica's epitaxy on the orientation of the fibers suggested a surface-assisted assembly process. On HOPG, interactions between the alkyl chains and the graphite surface resulted in the stabilization and trapping of monomer species followed by their subsequent association into coordination polymers on the surface. Interdigitation of the alkyl chains of separate polymer strands induced lateral association of wires to form islands that grew preferentially upon drop-casting and slow evaporation. Clusters of laterally assembled wires were observed for the more mobile functionalized porphyrins bearing C 12 chains.

The electrochemical behavior of three cytochrome c oxidase models has been investigated. All the models are derived from a phenanthroline-strapped, porphyrin framework that binds zinc(II) or iron(III) chloride in the porphyrin subunit, and copper(I) in the phenanthroline site. The iron complex and the bimetallic zinc(II) copper(I) complex of the parent ligand have been characterized by X-ray diffraction. One model consists of the parent structure on which C 12 alkyl chains have been added. This soluble model achieves electrochemical 2-electron reduction of oxygen in organic solvents without the addition of an exogenous axial base, and in the presence of an organic or inorganic source of protons. The two other models comprise the parent phenanthroline-strapped porphyrin framework, on which two pendant imidazoles have been incorporated. These models adsorbed on ring-disk electrodes with an edge-oriented, pyrolytic graphite (EOPG) disk and a platinum ring, efficiently catalyze the 4-electron reduction of oxygen in dioxygen saturated water at neutral pH.

Viologens can exist in three redox states varying from dicationic to neutral. This work emphasizes the control of the host–guest properties in bis-viologen cyclophanes. Two flexible cyclophanes were prepared by a cyclisation method sensitive to the odd/even number of carbons in the flexible chains linking two viologens. C5 and C7 cyclophanes were characterised by X-ray diffraction in their tetracationic state and their diradical dicationic state. In the presence of tetrathiafulvalene or methyl viologen as guests, inclusion complexes were obtained, including a mixed valence species.

International audience; The assembly of imidazole-functionalized phenan-throline-strapped zinc porphyrins (ZnPorphen)w ith alkyl or polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chains was studied in solution and by AFM after casting on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) or mica. The natureo ft he solvent and its evaporation time influenced the morphology of the objectso b-served.O nH OPG, short rods of about 100 nm were observed after fast evaporation of solutions of the alkyl derivatives in CHCl 3 ,T HF,o rp yridine, whereas islands of aligned rows of longer wires were obtained from methylcyclohexane (MCH). Slow evaporation of MCH led to at hree-dimensional assembly. The PEG porphyrin assembled into short wires on HOPG or fibers on mica after slow evaporation of solutions in THF.T his study shows the role of surface–molecule interactions in the interfacial assembly of ZnPorphen derivatives and contributes to understanding the parameters that control their noncovalent assembly into molecular wires on as urface.

In addition to the need for functional models of cytochrome c oxidase, structural models are still required for a better understanding of the small reorganizations occurring during the catalytic cycle. An efficient synthetic approach has been designed to prepare several phenanthroline-strapped porphyrins, two of them bearing two pendant imidazoles. These built-in bases are both potentially able to act as axial bases for the metalloporphyrin and as complementary ligands for copper if necessary. Diamagnetic zinc(II) was used to demonstrate that the distal/proximal selectivity demonstrated by exogenic bases binding studies can be extended to the coordination of iron(III). Combination of EPR and paramagnetic 1H NMR shows that the imidazole binding on the zinc species can be further extended to the iron(III) species in dilute conditions.

A highly soluble phenanthroline strapped porphyrin is prepared on multigram scale by appropriate functionalization with C 12 chains after the cyclization of the tetrapyrrolic macrocycle.

The respective affinities of various imidazole derivatives, imidazole (ImH), 2-methylimidazole (2-MeImH), 2-phenylimidazole (2-PhImH), N-methylimidazole (N-MeIm), 2-methylbenzimidazole (2-MeBzImH), and 4,5-dimethylbenzimidazole (4,5-Me(2)BzImH), for two phenanthroline (Phen) strapped zinc(II) porphyrin receptors porphen-Zn 1-Zn and 2-Zn have been studied. The formation of a supplementary H-bond considerably enhances the affinity of the zinc(II)-porphen receptor for imidazoles unsubstituted on the pyrrolic nitrogen (ImH) versus N-substituted imidazoles such as N-MeIm. The ImHs subset porphen-Zn complexes are formed with association constants up to 4 orders of magnitude superior to those measured either for N-MeIm as substrate or TPP-Zn as receptor. Distal or proximal binding of the substrates was determined by (1)H NMR measurements and titration. In two cases, the very high stability of the inclusion complex enabled the use of 2D NMR techniques. Excellent correlation between solution and solid-state structures has been obtained. A total of six X-ray structures are detailed in this article showing that the evolution of the shape of the zinc(II) receptor is mostly dependent on the steric constraints induced by the substitution on the imidazole. Hindered guests also progressively induce considerable mobility restrictions and severe distortions on the receptor, especially in the case of 2-MeBzImH and 2-PhImH.

Mononuclear zinc(II) complex, [Zn(II)L], where L is a dianionic ligand, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic, IR and NMR [1H, 13C, DEPT, 1H–1H COSY, ROESY, HSQC and HMBC] spectroscopic techniques. Structural analysis of the complex by single crystal X-ray crystallography shows the presence of a distorted square planar coordination geometry (NNOO) of the metal center. The crystal of the title complex C28H18N2O2Zn belongs to the orthorhombic system with space group Pmn21. Electrochemical behavior of the Zn(II)L complex has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry on glassy carbon and platinum electrodes in DMF at 100 mV/s scan rate.

The preparation of porphyrins functionalized with one or two carbazoles (or phenoxazines) is described. The electron donors were introduced into one or two porphyrin meso positions by using the inexpensive Ullmann coupling procedure. Very good yields were obtained, and for two new compounds, the X-ray structures were solved. Preliminary electrochemical data coupled with electronic spectroscopy are also reported.

The tremendous efforts made in order to control the coordination chemistry of hemoprotein models have considerably enhanced the synthesis of functionalized porphyrins, whose carefully designed architectures allowed for selective bindings of exogenic substrates. The common use of zinc(II) in place of pentacoordinated iron(II) has induced the use of zinc(II) porphyrins as building blocks for selective receptors. These receptors offer a convenient combination of multi-point recognition of substrates, and monitoring of the complexation due to the chromophoric nature of the tetrapyrrolic unit. This review is dedicated to recent progress made in the field of molecular recognition involving multi-point selective binding processes, in whichthe establishment of a strong coordination bond is finely tuned by one or more weak interactions adequately introduced in the architecture of a functionalized zinc(II)-porphyrin.

Imidazole-porphyrin coordination has become an important tool in the design of self-assembled materials. A combination of spectrophotometric and stopped-flow techniques has been used to gain insight into the control of imidazole binding in the distal pocket of phenanthroline-strapped porphyrins. The binding studies of a variety of imidazole substrates in combination with both hindered and accessible receptors have permitted the determination of the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters associated with the imidazole binding.

The selective mono-alkylation of a calix[4]arene with a functionalized benzaldehyde followed by the condensation with dipyrrylmethane afforded in good yield a porphyrin substituted by two calix[4]arenes. The same multisite ligand was alternatively obtained by double monoalkylation of two calix[4]arenes with a functionalized porphyrin. The two calixarene units are in cone shape and thus can accomodate neutral organic guests. The efficiency of the fluorescence quenching of two porphyrins by benzoquinone has been evaluated and compared. In a first approximation, Stern-Volmer plots provide evidence for an enhanced quenching when calixarene hosts are bound to the porphyrin.

Carefully designed porphyrin building blocks assemble through selective imidazole binding in various solvents to form linear multiporphyrin objects. From a dynamic mixture of monomers, dimers, and oligomers, linear objects were observed on a highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) surface. On the surface, the objects’ morphology clearly depended on the solvent used for deposition and was modified upon heating.

International audience; This study compares the behavior as cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) functional and structural models of a series of reported and unreported ligands that provide either a binding site for copper without a built-in proximal base, or both a flexible binding site for copper and a built-in proximal base, or a fixed binding site for copper with a built-in proximal base. The comparisons of the models show that the relative position of the two metal sites is not only a crucial parameter in the control of the catalytic behavior but also essential in mimicking other features of the enzyme such as CO exchange between the ferrous heme a(3) and the cuprous Cu(B) center.

Syntheses of double-calix(4)arenes, doubly- crowned calix(4larenes, and double-calix-crowns have been achieved by reacting p-tert-butylcalix(4larene or a new mesitol based calixL41arene with various polyethylene glycol ditosylates in the presence of potassium carbonate in refluxing acetonitrile. Depending on the nature of the ditosylate and on the reaction times are differently obtained calixarene ligands. The complexation properties toward alkali cations are presented for the double-calix-crown derived of p-tert-butylcalix(4larene.