Effects of substituents on synthetic analogs of chlorophylls. Part 3: The distinctive impact of auxochromes at the 7- versus 3-positions

Joseph W. Springer, Kaitlyn M. Faries, James R. Diers, Chinnasamy Muthiah, Olga Mass, Hooi Ling Kee, Christine Kirmaier, Jonathan S. Lindsey, David F. Bocian, Dewey Holten

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Assessing the effects of substituents on the spectra of chlorophylls is essential for gaining a deep understanding of photosynthetic processes. Chlorophyll a and b differ solely in the nature of the 7-substituent (methyl versus formyl), whereas chlorophyll a and d differ solely in the 3-substituent (vinyl versus formyl), yet have distinct long-wavelength absorption maxima: 665 (a) 646 (b) and 692 nm (d). Herein, the spectra, singlet excited-state decay characteristics, and results from DFT calculations are examined for synthetic chlorins and 13 1-oxophorbines that contain ethynyl, acetyl, formyl and other groups at the 3-, 7- and/or 13-positions. Substituent effects on the absorption spectra are well accounted for using Gouterman's four-orbital model. Key findings are that () the dramatic difference in auxochromic effects of a given substituent at the 7- versus3- or 13-positions primarily derives from relative effects on the LUMO+1 and LUMO; (2) formyl at the 7- or 8-position effectively "porphyrinizes" the chlorin and (3) the substituent effect increases in the order of vinyl < ethynyl < acetyl < formyl. Thus, the spectral properties are governed by an intricate interplay of electronic effects of substituents at particular sites on the four frontier MOs of the chlorin macrocycle. Chlorophyll a and b differ solely in the nature of the 7-substituent, whereas chlorophyll a and d differ solely in the 3-substituent, yet have distinct long-wavelength absorption maxima: 665 (a) 646 (b) and 692 nm (d). Herein, the spectra, singlet excited-state decay characteristics, and results from DFT calculations are examined for synthetic chlorins and 13 1-oxophorbines that contain a variety of substituents at the 3-, 7- and/or 13-positions. An intricate interplay of site-specific electronic effects of substituents on the four frontier MOs of the chlorin macrocycle is found to govern the spectral properties.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)651-674
Number of pages24
JournalPhotochemistry and Photobiology
Volume88
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2012

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