Photophysical investigations and binding strength in supramolecular interaction of a newly designed diporphyrin tweezer with fullerenes C60 and C70 in solution

► The present paper introduces a newly designed novel disporphyrin (1) molecule for fullerene encapsulation in solution. ► Extensive UV-Vis, both steady state and time-resolved fluorescence along with theoretical calculations are reported in the present investigations for the supramolecular complexes of 1 with C60 and C70. ► The most important feature of the present investigations is that although we obtain energy transfer phenomenon in toluene, electron transfer process is initiated in benzonitrile. ► Selectivity in binding constant value of the C70 complex of 1 over the C60 complex is only observed in benzonitrile. ► Theoretical calculations at Molecular Mechanics level have provided good support in favor strong complexation between C70 and 1 in the side-on orientation of C70.