Incorporation of various alcohol substituents to a metalloporphyrin platform for dramatic changes in morphologies of microcrystals

• Facile preparation of various porphyrin building blocks from (porphyrin)Sn(OH)2 platform
• Various morphologies of micro crystals and molecular packings
• Significant changes in the morphologies from seemingly small modifications on building block
• Single crystal structures with various molecular packing arrangements

Micro crystals with various morphologies have been successfully grown from readily accessible molecular platform [10,20-bis(2,6-dibutoxyphenyl)porphyrin]Sn(OH)2. Simple synthetic alteration makes this platform into various molecular building blocks using its axial coordination sites which trigger additional interactions and allow various crystal packing arrangements. We have demonstrated how apparently small modifications to building blocks can initiate significant changes in the morphologies and molecular packings of the corresponding solid state-state materials.

Micro crystals of various alcohols substituted [5,15-bis(2,6-dibutoxyphenyl)porphyrin]Sn(OR)21–5 with various morphologies have been successfully obtained in a simple method from readily accessible molecular building blocks. Simple synthetic alteration of the axially coordinated alcohol substituents on (porphyrin)Sn(OH)2 platform have triggered additional interactions to porphyrin building blocks resulting various crystal packing arrangements. The results have demonstrated how apparently small modifications to a building block can trigger significant changes in the morphologies and molecular packings of the corresponding solid state-state materials. Together with the unique catalytic and photophysical properties of the porphyrin building blocks, the capability to use this versatile manipulation in molecular level to fabricate well-defined nano/micro functional structures may expand their potential for applications in catalysis, photonics and electronics.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide