Photophysical properties of carborane-containing derivatives of 5,10,15,20-tetra(p-aminophenyl)porphyrin

Absorption, fluorescence emission, fluorescence excitation spectra and fluorescence decay kinetics of carborane derivatives of 5,10,15,20-tetra(p-aminophenyl)porphyrin have been investigated. Carborane derivatives are prepared by acylation of the amino groups of 5,10,15,20-tetra(p-aminophenyl)porphyrin by 9-carboranyl acetyl chloride. From the analysis of the absorption and fluorescence spectra, it is concluded that covalent linking of carborane molecules to the tetraphenylporphyrin molecule significantly changes the self-conjugated π-system of the porphyrin macrocycle: positions of maxima of absorption and fluorescence spectra shift to the red region by 3–8 nm; the halfwidths of these bands are broadened by 2.5–5.0 nm; the relative intensity of the bands I–IV also changes. The fluorescence decay kinetics of the carborane derivatives are biexponential. According to the experimental data and model simulation, it is concluded that the intramolecular electron transfer proceeds from the porphyrin excited part of the molecule to carboranyls with a rate constant of 415 ps−1 and efficiency of 0.16–0.8. Recombination of separated charges occurs within 1.4 ns.