Synthesis of rigid-rod linkers to anchor chromophores to semiconductor nanoparticles

Four rigid-rod sensitizers, made of a phenylethynyl spacer substituted with a chromophore and two COOR binding groups, were prepared to study dynamics of electron injection at the interface of metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticles. Dimethyl Ru(bpy)2(5-(5-1,10-phenanthrolinyl)ethynyl)isophthalate)2+ (), dimethyl Ru(bpy)2(5-(4-(2,2′-bipyridinyl)ethynyl)isophthalate)2+ (), dimethyl 5-(1-pyrenylethynyl)isophthalate (), and dimethyl 5-(9-anthracenylethynyl)isophthalate (), were synthesized and characterized. Their absorption spectra, emission spectra, and electrochemical properties have been studied in acetonitrile and hexane solutions at room temperature.