Photoinduced processes in multicomponent arrays containing transition metal complexes

The authors' recent activity in the study of photoinduced energy and electron transfer in linear arrays containing porphyrins assembled around a Ru(II) ion, is reviewed. The effect of substituents and distance and the role of the heavy metal ion is discussed. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of Ir(III) terpyridine complexes indicate that Ir(III) ion is a good candidate to successfully replace Ru(II) in the construction of multiporphyrinic linear arrays to achieve efficient photoinduced electron transfer. Preliminary results on multi-porphyrinic systems based on Ir(III) bis-terpyridine are presented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.