Self-assembly of uncharged amphiphilic porphyrins and incorporation of C60 fullerenes in water

We synthesised an uncharged amphiphilic porphyrin, meso-tetrakis-(3,5-di-{2-[2-(2-methoxy-ethoxy)-ethoxy]-ethoxy}-phenyl)-porphyrin, and investigated the supramolecular self-assembly of the porphyrins and the incorporation of C60 molecules into the assembly in aqueous solutions. Spectroscopic and dynamic light scattering studies on the assembly of the amphiphilic porphyrin support that the amphiphilic porphyrins are likely held together through enhanced π–π interactions by pronounced hydrophobic effects in aqueous solutions. It was also found that C60 molecules are efficiently incorporated into the assembly. The fluorescence emitted from the porphyrin ring of the porphyrin/C60 co-assembly in aqueous solution is largely quenched, implying the presence of strong electronic interactions between C60 and porphyrin molecules in the supramolecular assembly.