Chemical sensitivity of porphyrin assemblies

Porphyrins show unique binding properties that are widely exploited in nature to accomplish essential functions for life; the potential mimic of these functions with synthetic counterparts has provided the basis of many kinds of chemical sensors. This peculiar behaviour can be further enriched when porphyrins do not act as single players, but when they are included in a team, the porphyrin aggregates. Recent investigations point out that the supramolecular frameworks could allow interaction pathways not possible to the individual constituents. In this paper some recent results on supramolecular porphyrin aggregates exploited for chemical sensor development are illustrated and discussed.