Nugzar Zh. Mamardashvili

Enhancement of two-photon absorption in tetrapyrrolic compounds

We study the enhancement of two-photon absorption (TPA) in a series of porphyrins and tetraazaporphyrins by measuring the absolute TPA cross sections with 100-fs-duration pulses in two ranges of laser wavelengths, from 1100 to 1500 and from 700 to 800 nm. The cross section in the Q transition region is σ2∼1–10 GM (where 1 GM=10-50 cm4 s-1 photons-1), a value that is explained by partial lifting of the prohibition that is due to a parity selection rule. In the Soret transition region we find σ2 enhancement by ∼1 order of magnitude owing to the Q transition, which acts as a near-resonance intermediate state, and also owing to the presence of gerade energy levels, which we identify in this spectral region. In tetraazaporphyrins symmetrically substituted with strong electron acceptors, we find further enhancement (up to σ2∼1600 GM). As a possible application, we demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge the photosensitization of singlet-oxygen luminescence by TPA in porphyrin.

Corrole NH Tautomers: Spectral Features and Individual Protonation

Protonation of a free-base meso-pyrimidinyl-substituted AB(2)-corrole (H(3)AB(2)) in ethanol solution by stepwise addition of sulfuric acid has been studied in the temperature range from 293 to 333 K. The formation rate of protonated species was found to depend profoundly on the temperature at which the titration was undertaken. Two steps in the titration curve were identified at temperatures around 293-298 K, whereas one-step formation of protonated species was found to occur at temperatures above 308 K. The protonation product was the same in both cases, i.e., H(4)AB(2)(+) corrole, protonated at the macrocycle core nitrogen atoms. The two steps in the protonation kinetics at lower temperatures were attributed to protonation of individual tautomers of the free-base H(3)AB(2) corrole. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-illustrated (spectrophotometric) observation of individual properties of corrole NH tautomers in fluid solution. Concomitant increase in the NH tautomerization rate with increasing temperature is proposed to account for the one-step protonation. Evidences for the role of individual corrole NH tautomers in the protonation process as well as their optical features are discussed based on spectroscopic results and simulation data.

Binding ability of Zn-tetraarylporphyrins with two, four and eight 4-(4-(3,6-bis(t-butyl)carbazol-9-ylphenyl)-1,2,3-triazole end groups towards N-containing substrates of different nature

The binding ability of Zn-tetraarylporphyrins with two, four and eight 4-carbazolylphenyl-1,2,3-triazole end groups towards 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, pyridine and 1,2,3-triazole in toluene was studied by spectrophotometric and 1H NMR titration. It was determined that due to a good geometric match of the ligand size to the size of the intramolecular cavities of the porphyrinic receptor, and by the existence of additional π–π and/or hydrogen bonding interactions between the ligand and the triazole fragments of the porphyrin, the Zn-tetraarylporphyrin with eight 4-carbazolylphenyl-1,2,3-triazole end groups could be used as an effective receptor for 1,2,3-triazole and other small heterocycles such as pyridine. Taking into account the fact that binding is accompanied by a clear and easily identifiable response in the UV–vis spectra of the reaction mixture, this metalloporphyrin could be considered as a molecular optical sensing device for small heterocyclic substrates.

Tetrapyrrolic compounds as hosts for binding of halides and alkali metal cations

In this paper the binding of halides and alkali metal cations with porphyrin hosts is reported. The halide ions are complexed with diprotonated porphyrin macrocycle with high affinity and stable complexes of 1:1 and 1:2 structures with halide ions are formed. Strong (up to 300 times) quenching of the porphyrin fluorescence has been found upon the titration of porphyrin solutions with iodide ions. It was established that both static quenching upon formation of the non-fluorescent complex and dynamic diffusion-controlled quenching took place. It is shown that the halide ions binding isotherms can be linearized with double-logarithmic plots. The alkali metal cations are trapped with mono-meso-arylporphyrins containing a conformationally mobile complexing polyether fragment on the benzene ring with a terminal pyridine ring. The alkali metal cation binding constant depends on the polyether chain length. The five-membered (n = 5) polyether chain provides very high binding selectivity for potassium over lithium or sodium. The potassium complexation constants 3.6 × 105 and 7.2 × 104 M-1 have been obtained for Zn2+ complex and diprotonated porphyrin, respectively. For signaling of the alkali cation complexation, it is proposed to use the binding between the terminal pyridine ring with either the Lewis acidic site (chelated Zn2+ ion) or the diprotonated macrocycle core (H4P2+) acting as salt bridging site.

Polymorphism of 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene upon formation of n-hexane and acetonitrile complexes and thermal desolvation

Simultaneous analysis of X-ray powder diffraction patterns and DSC traces for 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-n-hexane and 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-acetonitrile compounds as functions of thermal history allows us to reveal the complex relationship between guest-free polymorphic products and desolvation of 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene inclusion compounds.

Molecular recognition of nitrogen – containing bases by Zn[5,15-bis-(2,6-dodecyloxyphenyl)]porphyrin

Abstract By means of spectrophotometric titration and 1H NMR spectroscopy, the selective binding ability of the Zn-5,15-bis-(2,6-dodecyloxyphenyl)porphyrin towards nitrogen containing organic molecules of various nature has been studied. It has been found that the presence of long alkoxy substituents at the ortho-positions of the Zn-porphyrin phenyl rings prevents the axial coordination of tertiary amines and, conversely, creates favourable conditions for binding of a primary diamine due to the presence of additional binding sites, namely the oxygen atoms of the ortho–ortho′- dodecyloxy substituents of the meso phenyl groups. The formation of stable complexes with multiple binding sites has been confirmed by DFT quantum chemical calculations and two-dimensional NMR experiments.

Metal-exchange reaction of Mg-octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin with Co(II)

The metal-exchange reaction of Mg(II)-octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin with CoCl2 leading to formation of Co(II)-octaphenyltetraazaporphyrin was studied by the method of UV-vis spectroscopy. The kinetic parameters of the metal-exchange reaction were determined.

Electrochemical and Electrocatalytical Properties of 3,7,13,17-Tetramethyl-2,8,12,18-Tetrabutylporphyrin in Alkaline Solution

The reduction and oxidation behaviour in alkaline solution of 3,7,13,17-tetramethyl-2,8,12,18-tetrabutylporphyrin (L) has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The shape of I-E curves was investigated at different terminal values of electrode potential and at different scan rates. It was shown that it is possible to obtain two reversible one-electron electroreduction processes accompanied by the formation of mono- and dianion forms of the porphyrin under specific experimental conditions. The reduction potentials of the L↔L- and L-↔L2- processes are –0.67±0.02 V and –1.12±0.02 V, respectively.

N-Confused porphyrins: complexation and 1H NMR studies

The complexation of 2-aza-21-carba-tetraphenylporphyrin and 2-aza-2-methyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrin with nickel and zinc acetates in organic solvents has been investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy and 1H NMR. It has been shown that the enhanced reactivity of these tetrapyrrolic macrocycles is mainly determined by their ability to exist in different tautomeric forms.

Synthesis and binding ability of mono- and tetrasubstituted aminophosphonate Zn-tetraarylporphyrins towards N- and O-containing organic substrates

The 1,6-addition of mono- and tetra-amino 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrins with dimethyl-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dienylidenemethyl)phosphonate leads to the corresponding mono- and tetrasubstituted aminophosphonate porphyrin derivatives. The binding ability of their Zn(II)-complexes towards 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane, imidazole, 4-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)benzyl alcohol and 4-(1H-imidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzyl alcohol in toluene was investigated by spectrophotometric and 1H NMR titration. It has been determined that the monosubstituted Zn-tetraarylporphyrin is involved in a two-point selective binding of 4-(1H-imidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzyl alcohol. Taking into account the fact that this binding is accompanied by a clear and easily identifiable response in the UV–vis spectra of the reaction mixture, this metalloporphyrin could be considered as a molecular optical sensing device for selected bidentate N- and O-containing substrates.