Diverse porphyrin dimers as candidates for high-density charge-storage molecules

Porphyrinic molecules have been shown to be viable candidates for a molecular-based information storage medium on the basis of redox activity. An optimal redox-based information storage medium requires a large charge density in the molecular footprint on the anchoring substrate. The use of dimeric versus monomeric architectures affords one route to achieving increased charge density without sacrificing surface cross sectional area. Towards this goal, a series of zinc and cobalt containing porphyrin dimers has been prepared and characterized. The interporphyrin linkages in the dimers include p-phenylene, ethynyl, 1,4-butadiynyl, and ethynylphenylethynyl joining porphyrin meso-positions; Crossley-type fusion bridging porphyrin β-positions, and Osuka-type triple fusions bridging one meso- and two β-positions. The electrochemical features of each dimer have been evaluated.