Multicomponent Zn-tetraphenylporphyrins: syntheses, characterization and their self assembly in the solid state

Two multicomponent Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) based building blocks have been synthesized for designing microporous crystalline solids. Reactions of ZnTPP with 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) in two different molar ratios gave two coordination complexes namely [(ZnTPP)3{μ-4,4'-bpy}2] I and [(ZnTPP)2{μ-4,4'-bpy}] II. Complexes I and II were characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. Inclusion complexes of I with toluene, II with toluene, and also with nitrobenzene have been prepared and are characterized by 1H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Supramolecular structural systematics of TPP-based materials are conserved in these crystals