Synthesis of soluble conjugated metalloporphyrin polymers with tunable electronic properties

New linear conjugated porphyrin polymers are synthesized by a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of [5,15-bis(ethynyl)-10,20-bis(mesityl)porphyrin]zinc and diiodobenzene derivatives; enhanced solubility of the conjugated porphyrin polymers is achieved by attachment of long alkyl ether or dialkyl amide groups to the aryl moiety, resulting in unambiguous characterization by H-1 NMR, IR, GPC, UV-VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy; in addition, the introduction of alkyl ether (electron donor) or dialkyl amide (electron acceptor) results in significant modulation of the electronic properties of the conjugated porphyrin polymers owing to strong electronic coupling.