Synthesis of soluble conjugated metalloporphyrin polymers with tunable electronic properties

Abstract

New linear conjugated porphyrin polymers are synthesized by a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of [5,15- bis(ethynyl)-10,20-bis(mesityl)porphyrin]zinc and diiodobenzene derivatives; enhanced solubility of the conjugated porphyrin polymers is achieved by attachment of long alkyl ether or dialkyl amide groups to the aryl moiety, resulting in unambiguous characterization by 1H NMR, IR, GPC, UV–VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy; in addition, the introduction of alkyl ether (electron donor) or dialkyl amide (electron acceptor) results in significant modulation of the electronic properties of the conjugated porphyrin polymers owing to strong electronic coupling.