bacteriochlorophylls and zinc-hematoporphyrin

It is well-known that time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) yields substantial errors for the excitation energies of charge-transfer (CT) excited states, when approximate standard exchange-correlation (xc) functionals are used, for example, SVWN, BLYP, or B3LYP. Also, the correct 1/R asymptotic behavior of CT states with respect to a distance coordinate R between the separated charges of the CT state is not reproduced by TDDFT employing these xc-functionals. Here, we demonstrate by analysis of the TDDFT equations that the first failure is due to the self-interaction error in the orbital energies from the ground-state DFT calculation, while the latter is a similar self-interaction error in TDDFT arising through the electron transfer in the CT state. Possible correction schemes, such as inclusion of exact Hartree-Fock or exact Kohn-Sham exchange, as well as aspects of the exact xc-functional are discussed in this context. Furthermore, a practical approach is proposed which combines the benefits of TDDFT and configuration interaction singles (CIS) and which does not suffer from electron-transfer self-interaction. The latter approach is applied to a (1,4)-phenylene-linked zincbacteriochlorin-bacteriochlorin complex and to a bacteriochlorophyll-spheroidene complex, in which CT states may play important roles in energy and electron-transfer processes. The errors of TDDFT alone for the CT states are demonstrated, and reasonable estimates for the true excitation energies of these states are given.

Topics: Bacteriochlorophylls; Carotenoids; Electron Transport; Energy Transfer; Metalloporphyrins; Models, Chemical; Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; Porphyrins; Proteobacteria; Systems Theory; Time Factors

The 2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl ligand is revealed to be a promising candidate for the construction of supramolecular porphyrin arrays with broad absorption bands for efficient light-harvesting. 10-Mono- and 10,20-di(2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl) derivatives of 5,15-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin have been synthesized in high yield. Their Zn(II) salts show variable concentration and temperature-dependent UV/vis spectra in solution, consistent with supramolecular aggregation. Whereas the FAB mass spectra of the monosubsituted derivative in toluene suggest the formation of a tetramer at high concentrations and low temperatures (estimated association free enthalpy Delta H = 220 +/- 10 kJ/mol), the larger splitting of the Sorret band (ca. 40 nm) in the variable temperature UV/vis spectra of the disubstituted bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin is indicative of yet higher aggregates involving both 2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl groups. The tetrameric nature of the monosubsituted derivative is confirmed by X-ray analysis, which reveals that two of the 2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl groups are encapsulated by the aggregate and consequently are prevented from undergoing hydrogen bonding. NMR studies show there is no exchange of the 2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl groups, so the tetramer is rigid, which is confirmed by molecular modeling calculations. The tetramer formation is governed by pi-pi interactions, metal coordination, and hydrogen bonding. The di(2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl) derivative forms strongly scattering solutions, which upon standing form green flocculate precipitates, reminiscent of shaken suspensions of bacteriochlorophyll c.

Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Bacteriochlorophylls; Biomimetic Materials; Hydrogen Bonding; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Metalloporphyrins; Models, Molecular; Pyrimidines; Zinc