Porphyrin Donor and Tunable Push-Pull Acceptor Conjugates-Experimental Investigation of Marcus Theory

We report on a series of electron donor-acceptor conjugates incorporating a Zn^II -porphyrin-based electron donor and a variety of non-conjugated rigid linkers connecting to push-pull chromophores as electron acceptors. The electron acceptors comprize multicyanobutadienes or extended tetracyanoquinodimethane analogues with first reduction potentials ranging from -1.67 to -0.23 V vs. Fc⁺ /Fc in CH₂ Cl₂ , which are accessible through a final-step cycloaddition-retroelectrocyclization (CA-RE) reaction. Characterization of the conjugates includes electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry, DFT calculations, and photophysical measurements in a range of solvents. The collected data allows for the construction of multiple Marcus curves that consider electron-acceptor strength, linker length, and solvent, with data points extending well into the inverted region. The enhancement of electron-vibration couplings, resulting from the rigid spacers and, in particular, multicyano-groups in the conformationally highly fixed push-pull acceptor chromophores affects the charge-recombination kinetics in the inverted region drastically.