Phosphorus(V)corrole- Porphyrin Based Hetero Trimers: Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Photochemistry

'Axial-bonding'-type hetero trimers have been constructed by employing a simple 'inorganic' reaction such as axial bond formation of main group element containing phosphorus corrole. The approach is simple and modular in nature. The architecture of these hetero trimers such that, while a phosphorus(V)corrole forms the basal scaffolding unit, either two free-base porphyrins [(H 2 ) 2 -PCor] or Zn(II) porphyrins [(Zn) 2 -PCor] occupy the two axial sites via an aryloxy bridge. Both hetero trimeric species have been completely characterized by mass (FAB), UV/Vis, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies and also by the differential pulse voltammetric method. Comparison of their spectroscopic and electrochemical data of these trimers with those of the corresponding reference compounds reveal that there is no apparent ring-to-ring interactions in these 'vertically' linked hetero trimers. Reduced fluorescence quantum yields were observed for [(H 2 ) 2 -PCor] and [(Zn) 2 -PCor] when compared to corresponding monomeric chromophores. Finally, a comparison is made between the presently reported phosphorus(V)corrole based hetero arrays and the previously reported analogous arrays based on Ge(IV)corrole with regard to their spectroscopic properties and photochemical activities.