Synthesis and optical properties of C3-ethynylated chlorin and π-extended chlorophyll dyads

A C3-ethynylated chlorophyll derivative was prepared from methyl pyropheophorbide-d possessing a 3-formyl group by treatment of Bestmann–Ohira reagent. The mono-substituted acetylene was subjected to coupling reactions at the terminal acetylenic carbon atom to form a series of π-extended chlorophyll derivatives. Replacement of the terminal hydrogen to phenyl, phenylethynyl and C3-chlorin-ethynyl caused red-shifts of their Qy (0,0) maxima from 675 to 679, 686, and 696 nm, respectively. Optical properties of C32-substituted 3-ethynyl-chlorophyll derivatives including chlorophyll dyads were investigated in comparison with those of their related compounds. Partial quenching of the fluorescence emission (Φflu=0.14) was observed for ortho-substituted dyad, compared to meta- (Φ=0.27) and para-dyads (Φ=0.29), suggesting a through-space interaction between the two chlorin macrocycles in a molecule.