Composites of the tetra‐anion of the perylene dye N,N′‐di(phenyl‐3,5‐disulfonic acid)perylene‐3,4:9,10‐tetracarboxydiimide (PBITS) with layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were formed by direct synthesis (co‐precipitation at constant pH). The LDHs were of the hydrotalcite (Mg–Al–OH and Zn–Al–OH compositions). During synthesis of the hydrocalumite type (Ca–Al–OH), partial destruction of the dye occurs, being more pronounced at higher pH values. The composites were characterized with regard to their composition by elemental and thermal analysis. From UV‐vis spectroscopic data and powder X‐ray diffraction, a structural model is developed for the composites. In the galleries between the hydroxide layers, the chromophore molecules are stacked in an J‐type arrangement. The compounds have brilliant colors and are insoluble in common solvents. With regard to a possible application as pigments, their photostability and their chemical resistance against a typical application environment was tested. The photostability of the dye molecules and their chemical resistance against setting cement are slightly raised by the occlusion within the LDH structure; however, the photostability of the LDH–cement is lower than that of cement colored with the pure perylene dye.

The incorporation of symmetrically branched tridecyl ("swallowtail") substituents at the meso positions of porphyrins results in highly soluble building blocks. Synthetic routes have been investigated to obtain porphyrin building blocks bearing 1-4 swallowtail groups. Porphyrin dyads have been synthesized in which the zinc or free base (Fb) porphyrins are joined by a 4,4'-diphenylethyne linker and bear swallowtail (or n-pentyl) groups at the nonlinking meso positions. The swallowtail-substituted Zn(2)- and ZnFb-dyads are readily soluble in common organic solvents. Static absorption and fluorescence spectra and electrochemical data show that the presence of the swallowtail groups slightly raises the energy level of the filled a(2u)(pi) HOMO. EPR studies of the pi-cation radicals of the swallowtail porphyrins indicate that the torsional angle between the proton on the alkyl carbon and p-orbital on the meso carbon of the porphyrin is different from that of a porphyrin bearing linear pentyl groups. Regardless, the swallowtail substituents do not significantly affect the photophysical properties of the porphyrins or the electronic interactions between the porphyrins in the dyads. In particular, time-resolved spectroscopic studies indicate that facile excited-state energy transfer occurs in the ZnFb dyad, and EPR studies of the monocation radical of the Zn(2)-dyad show that interporphyrin ground-state hole transfer is rapid.

The ability to incorporate distinct metalloporphyrins at designated sites in multiporphyrin arrays is essential for diverse applications in materials and biomimetic chemistry. The synthesis of such mixed-metal arrays via acid catalyzed reactions has largely been restricted to metalloporphyrins of stability class II (e.g., Cu, Co, Ni) or I. We describe routes for the rational synthesis of mixed-metal arrays via acid-catalyzed condensations that are compatible with metalloporphyrins of stability class III (e.g., Zn) and IV (e.g., Mg). The routes are demonstrated for p-phenylene-linked arrays. The key finding is that several mild Lewis acids [InCl(3), Sc(OTf)(3), Yb(OTf)(3), and Dy(OTf)(3)], which are known to catalyze the dipyrromethane + dipyrromethane-dicarbinol condensation in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature without acidolysis, do not demetalate zinc or magnesium porphyrins under the same conditions. Rational routes to porphyrin dyads and triads employ reaction of a (porphyrin)-dipyrromethane and a (porphyrin)-dipyrromethane-dicarbinol. The porphyrin-forming reactions (six examples) proceed in yields of 18-28%. The metalation states of the arrays prepared in this manner include Zn-free base (ZnFb), MgFb, ZnFbMg, ZnFbZn, and ZnFbFb. Studies of the catalysis process indicate that the dipyrromethane + dipyrromethane-dicarbinol condensation is catalyzed by both the Lewis acid and a Brønsted acid derived in situ from the Lewis acid. Taken together, the ability to employ otherwise "acid-labile" metalloporphyrins as precursors in condensation procedures should broaden the scope of accessible mixed-metal multiporphyrin arrays and motivate further studies of the application of mild Lewis acid catalysts in porphyrin chemistry.

The attachment of a γ‐hydroxy alkyl group to a nitrogen atom of perylene‐3,4:9,10‐tetracarboxylic bisimides results in a persistency to alkaline hydrolysis, even to alkali alcoholates. The solubility of these dyes can be controlled by substituents in the β‐position of the alkyl groups so that either highly stable pigments or dyes for homogeneous solutions with high fluorescence quantum yields are obtained. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)