Photoinduced electron transfer in a β,β′-pyrrolic fused ferrocene–(zinc porphyrin)–fullerene

Abstract

A donor–acceptor linked triad with a short spacer (Fc-ZnP-C₆₀) 1 was designed and synthesised to attain the longest charge-separation lifetime, 630 µs, ever reported for triads at room temperature. The ferrocene electron donor and fullerene electron acceptor of triad 1 are attached to imidazole rings fused to opposite β,β′-pyrrolic positions of the zinc porphyrin. After excitation of the porphyrin, electron transfer to C₆₀ occurs within 230 ps, followed by hole transfer to ferrocene after 500 ps to produce the long-lived charge-separated state.