Silver(III)⋅⋅⋅Silver(III) Interactions that Stabilize the syn Form in a Porphyrin Dimer Upon Oxidation

Abstract

The interaction between two AgII porphyrins, connected covalently through a highly flexible ethane bridge, in a metalloporphyrin dimer has been investigated upon stepwise oxidation. X-ray structure determination of one and two-electron oxidized complexes has clearly revealed only metal-centered oxidation that results in short Ag−N (porphyrin) distance with large distortion in the porphyrin macrocycle. The 2e-oxidized complex exhibits significant metallophilic interaction in the form of a close AgIII⋅⋅⋅AgIII contact that brings two porphyrin rings more cofacial with syn-conformation, which would otherwise stabilize in an anti-form. The interaction also leads to an intense emission peak at 546 nm at 77 K in the photoluminescence study.