Light harvesting porphyrin-crown ether conjugates: toward artificial photosynthetic systems

In this paper we report on our ongoing progress in the preparation of artificial photosynthetic systems through the preparation of light harvesting multi-porphyrins. The synthesis of these antennae is described herein and the energy transfer capabilities of these devices demonstrated. A terminal porphyrin/crown ether conjugate has been maintained in each case to ensure a coordination site for the complexation of an ammonium/C60 derivative, which could be chosen as the electron acceptor partner for the preparation of artificial photosynthetic systems.