Porphyrin–boron diketonate dyads

Porphyrins and boron diketonates represent two well studied classes of compounds, and whose photophysical properties make them suitable for application in bioimaging, as photosensitizer agents, or as pH or ion sensors. Compounds that combine the optical properties of these two chromophores in a single molecule are not known. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of two porphyrin–boron diketonate dyads and their zinc complexes. Overall, the absorption and emission spectra of these dyads are dominated by the porphyrin core. The nature of the diketonate or the boron diketonate has little effect on the absorption and fluorescence profiles of the dyads, inducing small bathochromic shifts and a slight increase in the fluorescence quantum yield.