Conformational folding induced by π-π interaction in a series of flexible dyads consisting of isomeric mesoporphyrin nitrobenzyl esters

Carles Colominas, Lisbeth Eixarch, Pere Fors, Kamil Lang, Santiago Nonell, Jordi Teixidó, Francesc R. Trull

Research output: Indexed journal article Articlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A series of isomeric (ortho, meta and para) nitrobenzyl mono- and di-esters of mesoporhyrin, in which the nitrobenzyl group(s) is (are) mono-linked through one or both propionate chains of the porphyrin, have been synthesized and their room-temperature conformations in a number of solvents have been investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Folding of these flexible dyads is consistent with the following observations: (1) 1H NMR ring current upfield shift in all solvents assayed [i.e., CDCl3, CDCl3-CD3OD (10:1) and C 6D6] of 0.5-2.5 ppm for the aryl protons; (2) these shifts are independent of temperature over the range 25 to -55°C; (3) the 1H NMR resonance values of mesoporphyrin benzyl ester (lacking the nitro group) are not shifted, indicating a preferred, sterically less crowded, extended conformation. The presence of the nitro group on the phenyl ring(s) is responsible for the folding of these flexible dyads, and the results can be interpreted in terms of π-π interactions (C. A. Hunter and J. K. M. Sanders, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, 5525-5534) between the two halves. In the theoretically calculated (molecular mechanics and semiempirical calculations) minimum-energy folded conformations, each benzyl group lies approximately parallel to the porphyrin π-system with its centre slightly offset relative to the centre of the porphyrin; however, for each isomer, significant structural differences between the ortho isomer and its meta and para counterparts are found. The implications of these differences for the photoinduced electron transfer efficiencies in these dyads are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)997-1004
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the Chemical Society. Perkin Transactions 2
Volume5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 1996

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