The field of photochemistry is as innovative in development as it is broad in application. However, utilization of energy from the sun’s electromagnetic radiation remains secondary to the combustion of fossil fuels for the global energy consumption. This is neither a sustainable nor renewable system, and it has contributed to a major decline in the health of our global environment as the greenhouse gases emission has led to an incline in global temperatures and ocean acidity. To develop effective ways to utilize solar energy, experimental effort is being directed towards the understanding of photosensitizers, molecules which absorb solar radiation and initiate redox chemistry in CO2 reduction catalysts. Some zinc dipyrrins, one such class of photosensitizers, are theorized to undergo intersystem crossing through a charge separated state, a transition that is stabilized in polar solvents. This transition increases the lifetime of the excited state, as relaxation from the triplet state occurs much slower than from the singlet state. A phenyl substituted zinc dipyrrin was attempted to be synthesized and characterized using NMR spectroscopy to probe aromatic substituent effects on the molecule’s photophysics. The product was analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy in order to confirm its purity and TLC analysis shows that the reaction kinetics are much slower in this phenyl substituted zinc dipyrrin than in previous reports, most likely due to the steric hindrance induced by the bulky phenyl substitutions.

Photokatalytische Systeme sind in der Lage, lichtinduziert kleine Moleküle zu aktivieren. Für diesen komplexen Katalysevorgang ist ein Zusammenspiel mehrerer Komponenten wichtig, wie dem Photosensibilisator (PS) und dem Katalysator. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Dissertation wurde auf verschiedenen Wegen versucht, photokatalytische Systeme auf Basis von Rhenium und 3d-Metallen zu optimieren. So konnten neue Komplexe auf Rheniumbasis synthetisiert und charakterisiert werden, welche zugleich als Photosensibilisator sowie Katalysator fungieren. Die Komplexe zeigen dabei nicht nur eine höhere Absorption, sondern auch eine höhere katalytische Produktivität, als deren mononuklearer Verwandte. Mittels DFT-Rechnungen und spektroskopischen Untersuchungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass ein kooperativer Vorgang stattfindet, bei dem eine Rheniumeinheit als PS, und eine als Katalysator agiert. Durch Zugabe eines externen PS konnte die katalytische Produktivität nochmals deutlich erhöht werden. Durch den zusätzlichen PS wird intermediär eine Rhenium-Rhenium-Spezies ausgebildet, welche CO2 kooperativ über beide Rheniumeinheiten aktivieren kann. Neben literaturbekannten PS auf Iridiumbasis wurden zudem neuartige Kupferphotosensibilisatoren genutzt. Verschiedene Derivate des Kupferphotosensibilisators wurden in der CO2-Reduktion und H2-Produktion getestet. Es zeigte sich, dass verschiedene elektronische Eigenschaften der PS Auswirkungen auf die Katalyseproduktivität haben. Zusätzlich wurden Katalysatoren auf Basis von 3d-Metallen konzipiert, welche abhängig von einem zusätzlichen PS sind. Bestrahlungsexperimente mit Iridium- und Kupfer-PS wurden durchgeführt und somit die Produktivität der einzelnen Katalysatoren bestimmt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sowohl die Wahl des Liganden, als auch des Katalysatormetalls Einfluss auf Menge und Selektivität der Produkte hat. / Photocatalytic systems are capable of light-induced activation of small molecules. Among other things, this allows CO2 to be reduced to higher-energetic molecules. The interaction of several components, such as the photosensitizer (PS) and the catalyst, is important for this complex catalysis process. In this dissertation, attempts were made to optimize systems based on rhenium and 3d metals in various ways. One approach was to synthesize and characterize new rhenium-based complexes, which can act as PSs and catalysts at the same time. The complexes showed not only higher absorption but also higher catalytic activity than their mononuclear relative. Using DFT calculations and spectroscopic investigations, it was shown that a cooperative process takes place, in which one rhenium unit acts as a PS and one as a catalyst. By adding an external PS, the activity was significantly increased again. This forms a rhenium-rhenium species which is able to activate CO2 cooperatively via both rhenium units. In addition to iridium-based PS known from the literature, novel copper photosensitizers were also used for this purpose. In order to get a better understanding of the interaction of both components, different derivatives of the copper photosensitizer were tested in the activity towards CO2 reduction and H2 evolution reaction. The electronic influence of the PS on the catalytic activity could be elucidated by means of Stern-Vollmer quenching studies and DFT calculations. In addition, catalysts based on 3d metals were designed. Iron, cobalt and nickel were used as the central atom together with two different macrocyclic ligands. These monomolecular compounds are dependent on a PS. Furthermore, irradiation experiments with iridium and copper PS were carried out and the activity of the individual catalysts was thereby determined. It was shown that the choice of the ligand as well as the catalyst has an influence on the quantity and selectivity of the resulting products.

Today’s society strives to eliminate the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which is the main greenhouse gas emitted through anthropogenic activities and contributes to climate change. In this project utilization of CO2 emissions from waste to energy plants to carbohydrates via photocatalytic reduction with water and further carbon coupling reactions is investigated. Two routes for the synthesis of carbohydrates have been investigated. Both methods use photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methanol and then proceed via different steps to produce carbohydrates or their precursors. The first route uses aldol condensation as the main method for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds and the second route is based on the formose reaction that uses formaldehyde as a reactant. The waste incineration plant selected for this study was the one located in Kil, Sweden. This plant processes 15590 tons of waste per year and emits 16366.5 tons of carbon dioxide per year. In order to separate carbon dioxide from the flue gas stream, MEA absorption was chosen as the best option due to its high efficiency. The presented processes have negative carbon dioxide emissions due to the fact that they convert of 16.4% of the waste incineration CO2 emissions into useful products and do not generate any emissions of their own. The aldol condensation pathway exhibits an efficiency of 1.3% when considering only food industry products and 2.5% when including other products that are useful to manufacture solvents, lubricants, or pharmaceuticals. The total amount of food industry products obtained is 3.9 kg/h with the energy requirements being was 159550 kJ/kgproduct. The formose reaction route yields 15.4 kg/h of only food industry products, mainly glucose, and exhibits an efficiency of 5%. The power requirements equal to 90099 kJ/kgproduct. The formose route was found to have higher yield and efficiency, and to be more energy consuming but also more energy efficient. Economic data was difficult to find due to the fact that photocatalytic processes are not commercial yet. / Dagens samhälle strävar efter att eliminera koldioxidutsläppen (CO2), som är den viktigaste växthusgasen som släpps ut genom antropogena aktiviteter och påverkar klimat. Den här projekten undersöker användning av koldioxidutsläpp från avfall till energianläggningar till produktion av kolhydrater via fotokatalytisk reduktion med vatten och ytterligare kolkopplingsreaktioner. Projekten utforskar två vägar för syntes av kolhydrater. Båda metoderna använda fotokatalytisk reduktion av koldioxid till metanol. Kolhydrater eller deras ursprungsmaterial syntetiseras via olika steg nedströms den fotokatalitiska processen. Den första vägen använder aldolkondensation som huvudmetod av kol-kolbindningar och den andra vägen baseras på formosreaktionen som använder formaldehyd som reaktant. Den avfallsförbränningsanläggning som valts ut för denna studie var den i Kil, Värmland, Sverige. Denna anläggning behandlar 15590 ton avfall per år och släpper ut 16366,5 ton koldioxid per år. För att separera koldioxid från rökgasströmmen valdes MEA-absorption som det bästa alternativet på grund av dess höga effektivitet. De presenterade processerna har negativa koldioxidutsläpp på grund av att de omvandlar 16,4% av koldioxid från avfallsförbränning till användbara produkter och inte genererar  egna utsläpp. Aldolkondensationsvägen uppvisar en effektivitet på 1,3% om man endast beaktar livsmedelsindustrins produkter och 2,5% om man gör andra produkter som är användbara för att tillverka lösningsmedel, smörjmedel eller läkemedel. Den totala mängden av livsmedelsprodukter är 3,9 kg / h och energibehovet är lika med 159550 kJ / kg produkt. Formosreaktionsvägen ger 15,4 kg / h av livsmedelsindustrin produkt, huvudsakligen glukos, och uppvisar en effektivitet på 5%. Effektkraven är lika med 90099 kJ / kg produkt. Formosvägen visade sig ha högre utbyte och effektivitet och vara mer energikrävande men också mer energieffektiv. Ekonomiska data var svåra att hitta på grund av att fotokatalytiska processorn ännu inte är kommersiell.

Foram sintetizadas duas novas classes de porfirinas aquosolúveis pela quaternização dos resíduos piridínicos da TPyP empregando halelos de benzila e alila. Os produtos dessas reações de quaternização TBzPyP e TAlPyP. são mais facilmenle obtidos que a TMPyP, exingindo menores tempos de reação e menores quantidades de agente alquilante para que a quaternização total da TPyP seja efetuada. Esse procedimento surge como uma rota alternativa para a obtenção de porfirinas aquosolúvei s e vale-se da alta estabilidade dos cátions benzílicos e alílicos. Os respectivos complexos de zinco e paládio foram obtidos da reação de quaternização de ZnTPyP e PdTPyP ou por reações de metalação de TBzPyP e TAlPyP. As bases livres e os metalocomplexos foram estudados quanto às suas propriedades espectroscópicas, eletroquímicas e fotoquímicas. Os novos derivados apresentam deslocamentos batocrômicos das posições dos máximos de absorção e emissão se comparados com a série metil-piridil substituída, indicando a existência de efeitos eletrônicos e vibracionais dos substituintes sobre o sistema Π do macrociclo. Os dados espectroscópicos mostram evidências de que as bases livres encontram-se em solução aquosa no estado agregado, provavelmenle formando dímeros em concentrações superiores a cerca de 6.0 x 10-7 M. A presença de detergentes aniônicos altera significamente tanto a posição dos máximos de absorção como de emissão mostrando que além dos aspectos eletrostáticos fatores hidrofôbicos-hidrofílicos fazem-se presentes na interação de surfactantes com os derivados porfirínicos. C comportamento eletroquímico dos derivados benzílicos e alílicos também é diferenciado com relação aos derivados metílicos, sendo observadas maiores separações entre os picos anódico e catódico. Estas diferenças devem-se, provavelmente ao maior caráter hidrofóbico destes derivados, que originam interações específicas nos processos eletródicos. Os tempos de vida do estado excitado triplete das zinco porfirinas, ZnTMPyP, ZnTBzPyP e ZnTAlPyP foram medidos utilizando-se a técnica de flash-photolysis, sendo que todas apresentam tempos de vida da ordem de 1 ms. A fim de estudar reações de transferência de elétrons fotoinduzidas entre os novos derivados porfirínicos e aceptores adequados em sistemas de clivagem da água (p. ex. metilviologênio), catalisadores coloidais de platina foram preparados pela redução de Pt(IV) ou Pt(II) a Pt(O), e as dimensões do colóide foram estimadas por microscopia eletrônica, sendo obtidas partículas coloidais de 30-40 Å. A concentração de platina foi determinada por emissão atômica, ou por complexiometria. Estudou-se a interação de porfirinas e metaloporfirinas com o polímero sintético da melanina, utilizando-se a técnica de emissão de fluorescência. Verificou-se que a presença de metais coordenados à porfirina assim como a presença de grupos com maior caráter hidrofôbico acentuam a interação implicando em maior especificidade destes derivados, característica essa apropriada para a utilização destas moléculas em terapia fotodinâmica. Foi determinada a CMC em pH = 1,00 de um derivado porfirínico surfactante, sendo que a partir de 1,0 x 10-4 M ocorre a micelização. Este é o primeiro exemplo de auto-agregação de uma porfirina sintética em um meio onde não participam solventes orgânicos. / In the present work two new classes of water soluble porphyrins were prepared by the quaternization of the TPyP pyridynic groups employng benzyl and allyl halides. The products of these quaternization reactions, TBzPyP and TAlPyP, are easier to obtain than TMPyP because they require smaller amounts of alkylating agents and a less period of reaction to achive the pyridinic quaternization. This method is an alternative route in obtaining water soluble porphyrins and is based on the high stability of the benzylic and allylic cation. The corresponding zinc and palladium complexes were obtanained by quaternization reactions of ZnTPyP and PdTPyP or by metallation reactions of TBzPyP and TAlPyP. The free bases and metallocomplexes studies were carried out taking to account their spectroscopic electrochemical and photochemical properties. The new derivatives exhibit bathocromic shifts in the absorption and emission position bands when compared with the methyl-pyridynium derivatives these data indicate the existence of elect.ronic and vibrational effects of the substituents on the macrociclic Π system. The espectroscopic data show evidences that the free bases are like aggregates in aqueous solution, probably forming dimers in the concentration range of 5,0 x 10-7 M. The presence of anionic detergents alter deeply the spectroscopic properties, showing that hidrophobic-hidrophylic factors in addition of eletrostatic factors are present, in the interaction of the surfactant with the porphyrinic derivatives. The electrochemical behavior of the benzylic and allylic derivatives are different when compared with the methylic derivatives, were it was observed greater separation between the anodic and cathodic peaks. The observed differences are probably due to specific interactions of the more hidrophobic derivatives in eletrode processes. The triplet excited state lifetimes of the zinc derivatives, ZnTMPyP, ZnTBzPyP e ZnTAlPyP mesured employng f\'lash-photolysis thecnics were c.a. 1 ms. The synthesis of coloidal platinum catalyst was achived by slight modification of the literature methods, and the size of the majority particules determined by electron microscopy are around 30-40 A. The int.eract.ion between porphyrins and metalloporphyrins wilh the synthetic melanin polymer was studied employng fluorescence emisson. The presence of coordinate metals and the presence of more hidrophobic groups attached at the porphyrin ring originate greater specificity by the polymer, which make them possible photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. It was also determined the CMC of a surfactant funtionalyzed zinc porphyrin in aqueous medium at. pH = 1,00. This derivative form micellar assemblies at 1,0 x 10-4 M, and is the first example of self aggregation of a synthetic porphyrin in a non-organic medium.

Nessa tese, duas frentes de trabalho foram abordadas: a aplicação de camadas compactas de TiO2 nanoestruturado em células fotoeletrossintéticas sensibilizadas por corante (DSPECs) e a síntese e caracterização de uma série de complexos polipiridínicos de Ir(III), visando à aplicação em dispositivos moleculares. A primeira investigação focou na obtenção de sóis de TiO2 nanoestruturado utilizando um método sol-gel. As deposições dessas nanopartículas pelo método Layer-by-Layer levaram ao crescimento de filmes finos, que foram aplicados no fotoanodo das DSPECs, entre o substrato condutor e o óxido mesoporoso, com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho desses dispositivos. Os filmes obtidos são altamente compactos e a caracterização fotoeletroquímica das DSPECs apontou que eles propiciaram o aumento da fotocorrente em até 53%, em comparação aos dispositivos não modificados. A voltametria mostrou que as camadas compactas atuam também no deslocamento a potenciais mais negativos, o que pode levar a um aumento na eficiência da geração de oxigênio. As eficiências de conversão de fótons incidentes em corrente (IPCE) corroboraram o papel dessas camadas nos fotoanodos dos dispositivos. As medidas de decaimento de potencial/tempo de vida do elétron no eletrodo − realizados pioneiramente em DSPECs − demonstraram o sucesso na implementação dessa proposta inovadora. A segunda parte deste trabalho focou na obtenção de complexos de Ir(III) com potenciais aplicações em sistemas luminescentes. Três novos complexos polipiridínicos heterolépticos de Ir(III) [Ir(Fppy)2(CF3pic)], [Ir(ppy)2(CF3pic)] e [Ir(Meppy)2(CF3pic)], em que Fppy = 2-(2,4-difluorofenil)piridina, ppy = 2-fenilpiridina, Meppy = 2-(p-toluil)piridina e CF3pic = 3-(trifluorometil)piridina-2-carboxilato, foram obtidos para avaliar suas propriedades fotofísicas em diferentes meios. Dentre os compostos investigados, o [Ir(Fppy)2(CF3pic)] apresentou um perfil bastante diferenciado. Seu estado excitado em meio fluido, acetonitrila, é característico de 3MLCT (transferência de carga metal-ligante) com 13% de rendimento quântico de emissão. Em meio de rigidez intermediária, poli(metil metacrilato) (PMMA), observase uma inversão do estado excitado de mais baixa energia, com um decaimento radiativo típico de 3IL (transição eletrônica intra-ligante), ao passo que para os demais complexos investigados, a emissão em PMMA ainda é do tipo 3MLCT. Em meio vítreo, altamente rígido, a emissão de todos os compostos apresenta bandas características de 3IL, bastante estruturadas e deslocadas para o azul. O efeito rigidocrômico foi discutido e sumarizado em termos de diagramas de energia. Diagramas de cromaticidade também foram obtidos, mostrando as coordenadas CIE (Comission Internationale dEclairage) referentes às cores de emissão de cada complexo. Esse trabalho apresenta a importância da fotofísica desses compostos para potenciais aplicações em dispositivos moleculares. / The main focus of this thesis is: application of nanostructured TiO2 compact layers in dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs) and syntheses and characterization of Ir(III) polypyridyl complexes towards molecular devices. The first investigation focused on the preparation of nanostructured TiO2 sols using a sol-gel method. The deposition of these nanoparticles through the Layer-by-Layer method led to a thin film growth, which were applied at the photoanode of DSPECs between the conducting glass and the mesoporous network to evaluate the performance of these devices. The obtained thin films are highly compact and the photoelectrochemical characterization of DSPECs showed photocurrent enhancements of 53%, compared with non-modified devices. Voltammetry analyses depicted that the compact layers promote shifts to more negative potentials, which may lead to higher oxygen evolution efficiencies. Incident photon-to-current efficiencies (IPCE) corroborate the role of compact layers in these devices. Potential decay/electron lifetime measurements − pioneered in DSPECs − demonstrated a successful accomplishment of such an innovative approach. The second part of this work focused on the obtention of Ir(III) complexes with potential application in luminescent systems. Three new polypyridyl heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes [Ir(Fppy)2(CF3pic)], [Ir(ppy)2(CF3pic)] and [Ir(Meppy)2(CF3pic)], where Fppy = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine, ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, Meppy = 2-(p-tolyl)pyridine and CF3pic = 3-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine-2-carboxylate, were obtained to evaluate their photophysical properties in different media. Among the investigated complexes, [Ir(Fppy)2(CF3pic)] showed a distinct profile and its excited state in fluid medium, acetonitrile, is typically 3MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) in character with an emission quantum yield of 13%. In an intermediate-rigidity medium, as poly(methyl metacrilate) (PMMA), an inversion of the lowest-lying state is observed, with a 3IL (intra-ligand) character emission, whereas for other complexes in PMMA remain 3MLCT. In glassy medium, highly rigid, all compounds depict characteristic 3IL bands, well structured and blue-shifted. This rigidochromic effect was rationalized through energy diagrams. Chromaticity diagrams were also obtained and show theCIE (Comission Internationale dEclairage) coordinates for the emitted color of each complex. This work features an appealing study of complex photophysics, where potential application of these compounds are pointed out.

Diese Dissertation leistet einen Beitrag zum Verständnis des Energie- und Elektronentransfers innerhalb von neuartigen supramolekularen Strukturen, die aus einem zentralen Phthalocyanin und zwei axial angekoppelten Porphyrinen bestehen. Zwei solcher Trimere, welche die koordinative Ankopplung von Porphyrinen über ein Silizium-Zentralatom des Phthalocyanins nutzen, wurden im Rahmen der Arbeit zum ersten Mal quantitativ bezüglich auftretender innermolekularer Transferprozesse charakterisiert. Ziel war die Beantwortung der Frage, ob diese Substanzklasse die wunschgemässe Vereinigung von Lichtsammlung und Ladungstrennung ermöglicht. Aus der Kombination der Messdaten, aufgenommen mit einer Vielzahl von Messverfahren, konnten für die beiden untersuchten Trimere in zwei unterschiedlich polaren Lösungsmitteln die Ratenkonstanten der Energie- und Ladungstransferkanäle ermittelt werden. In allen Fällen findet ein effizienter Ladungstransfer von den Porphyrinen zum Phthalocyanin und ein Lochtransfer vom Phthalocyanin zu einem der beiden Porphyrine statt. Dieses Ergebnis bestätigt die Erwartung, dass Lichtsammlung und Ladungstrennung in diesem Molekül vereint auftreten. Zusätzlich zu den beiden oben erwähnten Prozessen findet je nach Lösungmittelpolarität und Struktur der Porphyrine ein dem Energietransfer paralleler Elektronentransfer und ein Ladungsrücktransfer statt. Allerdings zerfällt der ladungsseparierte Zustand zu schnell, was eine praktische Nutzung der untersuchten Verbindungen in Solarzellen noch verhindert und ihre Weiterentwicklung erfordert. / This thesis contributes to the comprehension of energy and electron transfer within novel supra-molecular structures, denominated triads, consisting of a central phthalocyanine axially-coupled to two porphyrins. In the course of this thesis, two of the trimers, were quantitatively characterized regarding their intramolecular transfer processes. Both feature a dative bond between the porphyrins and the phthalocyanine via the central silicium atom of the latter. These investigations aimed at answering whether this class of compounds allows the desired combination of light harvesting and charge separation. The rate constants of both investigated trimers in two solvents with different polarity were determined by the combination of data from a variety of measurement methods. An efficient charge transfer from the porphyrins to the phthalocyanine and a hole transfer from the phthalocyanine to one of the porphyrins occurs in all investigated cases. This result confirms the prospect that light harvesting and charge separation can occur combined in one molecule. Depending on solvent polarity and the structure of the porphyrines, electron transfer parallel to the energy transfer and a charge back transfer takes place in addition to both above-mentioned processes. However, the charge-separated state of the investigated substances decays to fast, still preventing a practical utilization of these compounds in solar cells and necessitating further developments.

Foram sintetizadas duas novas classes de porfirinas aquosolúveis pela quaternização dos resíduos piridínicos da TPyP empregando halelos de benzila e alila. Os produtos dessas reações de quaternização TBzPyP e TAlPyP. são mais facilmenle obtidos que a TMPyP, exingindo menores tempos de reação e menores quantidades de agente alquilante para que a quaternização total da TPyP seja efetuada. Esse procedimento surge como uma rota alternativa para a obtenção de porfirinas aquosolúvei s e vale-se da alta estabilidade dos cátions benzílicos e alílicos. Os respectivos complexos de zinco e paládio foram obtidos da reação de quaternização de ZnTPyP e PdTPyP ou por reações de metalação de TBzPyP e TAlPyP. As bases livres e os metalocomplexos foram estudados quanto às suas propriedades espectroscópicas, eletroquímicas e fotoquímicas. Os novos derivados apresentam deslocamentos batocrômicos das posições dos máximos de absorção e emissão se comparados com a série metil-piridil substituída, indicando a existência de efeitos eletrônicos e vibracionais dos substituintes sobre o sistema Π do macrociclo. Os dados espectroscópicos mostram evidências de que as bases livres encontram-se em solução aquosa no estado agregado, provavelmenle formando dímeros em concentrações superiores a cerca de 6.0 x 10-7 M. A presença de detergentes aniônicos altera significamente tanto a posição dos máximos de absorção como de emissão mostrando que além dos aspectos eletrostáticos fatores hidrofôbicos-hidrofílicos fazem-se presentes na interação de surfactantes com os derivados porfirínicos. C comportamento eletroquímico dos derivados benzílicos e alílicos também é diferenciado com relação aos derivados metílicos, sendo observadas maiores separações entre os picos anódico e catódico. Estas diferenças devem-se, provavelmente ao maior caráter hidrofóbico destes derivados, que originam interações específicas nos processos eletródicos. Os tempos de vida do estado excitado triplete das zinco porfirinas, ZnTMPyP, ZnTBzPyP e ZnTAlPyP foram medidos utilizando-se a técnica de flash-photolysis, sendo que todas apresentam tempos de vida da ordem de 1 ms. A fim de estudar reações de transferência de elétrons fotoinduzidas entre os novos derivados porfirínicos e aceptores adequados em sistemas de clivagem da água (p. ex. metilviologênio), catalisadores coloidais de platina foram preparados pela redução de Pt(IV) ou Pt(II) a Pt(O), e as dimensões do colóide foram estimadas por microscopia eletrônica, sendo obtidas partículas coloidais de 30-40 Å. A concentração de platina foi determinada por emissão atômica, ou por complexiometria. Estudou-se a interação de porfirinas e metaloporfirinas com o polímero sintético da melanina, utilizando-se a técnica de emissão de fluorescência. Verificou-se que a presença de metais coordenados à porfirina assim como a presença de grupos com maior caráter hidrofôbico acentuam a interação implicando em maior especificidade destes derivados, característica essa apropriada para a utilização destas moléculas em terapia fotodinâmica. Foi determinada a CMC em pH = 1,00 de um derivado porfirínico surfactante, sendo que a partir de 1,0 x 10-4 M ocorre a micelização. Este é o primeiro exemplo de auto-agregação de uma porfirina sintética em um meio onde não participam solventes orgânicos. / In the present work two new classes of water soluble porphyrins were prepared by the quaternization of the TPyP pyridynic groups employng benzyl and allyl halides. The products of these quaternization reactions, TBzPyP and TAlPyP, are easier to obtain than TMPyP because they require smaller amounts of alkylating agents and a less period of reaction to achive the pyridinic quaternization. This method is an alternative route in obtaining water soluble porphyrins and is based on the high stability of the benzylic and allylic cation. The corresponding zinc and palladium complexes were obtanained by quaternization reactions of ZnTPyP and PdTPyP or by metallation reactions of TBzPyP and TAlPyP. The free bases and metallocomplexes studies were carried out taking to account their spectroscopic electrochemical and photochemical properties. The new derivatives exhibit bathocromic shifts in the absorption and emission position bands when compared with the methyl-pyridynium derivatives these data indicate the existence of elect.ronic and vibrational effects of the substituents on the macrociclic Π system. The espectroscopic data show evidences that the free bases are like aggregates in aqueous solution, probably forming dimers in the concentration range of 5,0 x 10-7 M. The presence of anionic detergents alter deeply the spectroscopic properties, showing that hidrophobic-hidrophylic factors in addition of eletrostatic factors are present, in the interaction of the surfactant with the porphyrinic derivatives. The electrochemical behavior of the benzylic and allylic derivatives are different when compared with the methylic derivatives, were it was observed greater separation between the anodic and cathodic peaks. The observed differences are probably due to specific interactions of the more hidrophobic derivatives in eletrode processes. The triplet excited state lifetimes of the zinc derivatives, ZnTMPyP, ZnTBzPyP e ZnTAlPyP mesured employng f\'lash-photolysis thecnics were c.a. 1 ms. The synthesis of coloidal platinum catalyst was achived by slight modification of the literature methods, and the size of the majority particules determined by electron microscopy are around 30-40 A. The int.eract.ion between porphyrins and metalloporphyrins wilh the synthetic melanin polymer was studied employng fluorescence emisson. The presence of coordinate metals and the presence of more hidrophobic groups attached at the porphyrin ring originate greater specificity by the polymer, which make them possible photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. It was also determined the CMC of a surfactant funtionalyzed zinc porphyrin in aqueous medium at. pH = 1,00. This derivative form micellar assemblies at 1,0 x 10-4 M, and is the first example of self aggregation of a synthetic porphyrin in a non-organic medium.

<p>This thesis describes an interdisciplinary project, where the aim is to mimic the initial reactions in photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, the absorption of light is followed by the formation of charge-separated states. The energy stored in these charge-separated states is further used for the oxidation of water and reduction of carbon dioxide. In this thesis the photo-induced processes in a range of supramolecular complexes have been investigated with time resolved spectroscopic techniques. The complexes studied consist of three types of units; photosensitizers (P) capable of absorbing light, electron acceptors (A) that are easily reduced and electron donors (D) that are easily oxidised. Our results are important for the future design of artificial photosystems, where the goal is to produce hydrogen from light and water. </p><p>Two molecular triads with a D-P-A architecture are presented. In the first one, a photo-induced charge-separated state was formed in an unusually high yield (φ>90%). In the second triad, photo-irradiation led to the formation of an extremely long-lived charge-separated state (τ = 500 ms at 140K). This is also the first synthetically made triad containing a dinuclear manganese unit as electron donor.</p><p>Further, two sets of P-A dyads are presented. In both, the expected photo-induced reduction of the electron acceptor is diminished due to competing energy transfer to the triplet state of the acceptor.</p><p>Finally, a P-P-A complex containing two separate photosensitizers is described. The idea is to produce high-energy charge-separated states by using the energy from two photons.</p>

<p>Processes where a molecule absorbs visible light and then converts the solar energy into chemical energy are important in many biological systems, such as photosynthesis and also in many technical applications e.g. photovoltaics. This thesis describes a part of a multidisciplinary project, aiming at a functional mimic of the natural photosynthesis, with the overall goal of production of a renewable fuel from sun and water. More specific, the thesis is focused on design and photophysical characterization of new photosensitizers, i.e. light absorbers that should be capable of transferring electrons to an acceptor and be suitable building blocks for supramolecular rod-like donor-photosensitizer-acceptor arrays.</p><p>The excited state lifetime, the excited state energy and the geometry are important properties for a photosensitizer. The work presented here describes a new strategy to obtain longer excited state lifetimes of the geometrically favorable Ru(II)-bistridentate type complexes, without a concomitant substantial decrease in excited state energy. The basic idea is that a more octahedral coordination around the Ru will lead to longer excited state lifetimes. In the first generation of new photosensitizers a 50-fold increase of the excited state lifetime was observed, going from 0.25 ns for the model complex to 15 ns for the best photosensitizer. The second generation goes another step forward, to an excited state lifetime of 810 ns. Furthermore, the third generation of new photosensitizers show excited state lifetimes in the 0.45 - 5.5 microsecond region at room temperature, a significant improvement. In addition, the third generation of photosensitizers are suitable for further symmetric attachment of electron donor and acceptor motifs, and it is shown that the favorable properties are maintained upon the attachment of anchoring groups. The reactivity of the excited state towards light-induced reactions is proved and the photostability is sufficient so the new design strategy has proven successful.</p>

<p>A molecular system capable of photoinduced water splitting is an attractive approach to solar energy conversion. This thesis deals with the functional characterization of molecular building blocks for the three principal functions of such a molecular system: Photoinduced accumulative charge separation, catalytic water oxidation, and catalytic proton reduction. </p><p>Systems combining a ruthenium-trisbipyridine photosensitizer with multi-electron donors in form of dinuclear ruthenium or manganese complexes were investigated in view of the rate constants of electron transfer and excited state quenching. The kinetics were studied in the different oxidation states of the donor unit by combination of electrochemistry and time resolved spectroscopy. The rapid excited state quenching by the multi-electron donors points to the importance of redox intermediates for efficient accumulative photooxidation of the terminal donor.</p><p>The redox behavior of manganese complexes as mimics of the water oxidizing catalyst in the natural photosynthetic reaction center was studied by electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. For a dinuclear manganese complex ligand exchange reactions were studied in view of their importance for the accumulative oxidation of the complex and its reactivity towards water. With the binding of substrate water, multiple oxidation in a narrow potential range and concomitant deprotonation of the bound water it was demonstrated that the manganese complex is capable of mimicking multiple aspects of photosynthetic water oxidation.</p><p>A dinuclear iron complex was investigated as biomimetic proton reduction catalyst. The complex structurally mimics the active site of the iron-only hydrogenase enzyme and was designed to hold a proton on the bridging ligand and a hydride on the iron centers. Thermodynamics and kinetics of the protonation reactions and the electrochemical behavior of the different protonation states were studied in view of their potential catalytic performance.</p>