I-SITE 2017 - Junior - Pi-extension of porphyrins: towards functional materials

π-extension of aromatic compounds by intramolecular oxidative coupling with a peripheral conjugated substituent (=fusion reaction) is currently an active research field in molecular chemistry since numerous potential applications are expected (PDT,IR absorption, solar cells, molecular conducting materials…).

This project aims at
1) synthesizing porphyrinic precursors to be fused,
2) synthesizing and exploring the reactivity of fused compounds,
3) transferring the reactivity observed in solution onto a surface by grafting the unfused precursors/fused compounds leading to switchable materials.

Principal Investigator: Dr Charles Devillers