Steven Peterson

In recent years phosphorus(V) porphyrins have gained attention due to their desirably low reduction potentials making them useful in artificial photosynthetic systems and photodynamic therapy. A major drawback of phosphorus tetraphenylporphryin is its inability to support asymmetrical ligands in its axial positions, which limits it potential for use in these systems. In recent years antimony(V) porphyrins have been suggested for use in these systems because they can support asymmetrical axial ligands; however, their reduction potentials are higher relative to their phosphorus counterparts, making them less desirable. To reduce the reduction potentials of antimony tetraphenylporphryin, a series of antimony tetraphenylporphyrins bearing methoxy-substitutions on their phenyl rings were synthesized. It’s theorized that the methoxy-substituents will donate electron density to the porphyrin ring thus decreasing the reduction potentials of the porphyrins. This series of antimony porphryins was characterized via UV-Visible absorbance, fluorescence, and electrochemical methods. The study will provide much-needed optical and redox properties for the design and construction of model compounds for artificial photosynthesis and photodynamic therapy.