Synthesis and Characterization of a New Asymmetric Bis-Porphyrinato Lanthanide Complex Presenting Mixed Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Properties and Its Precursor Form

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a new family of heteroleptic porphyrinate double-deckers are reported. The investigated compounds are represented by the formulae LaIIIH(TPyP)(TPP) and [LaIII(TMePyP)(TPP)]I3. UV-vis spectroscopy of the title complexes confirms the presence of a strong (pi)-(pi) interaction between the macrocycles in each derivative. With 1H and 2-D NMR data, we were able to distinguish two major NMR regions: the endo, between the bonded macrocycles, and the exo, outside the macrocycles, which are characteristic features of porphyrinic double-deckers. Finally, the electrochemical study confirms the strong (pi)-(pi) interaction for LaIIIH(TPyP)(TPP) and completes this first approach for the investigation of this new family of derivatives.