Emerging azacalixphyrin: a novel molecular tool for science – EMA

Porphyrins are the most important and adaptable macrocycles in science since their research concerns areas ranging from chemistry to materials science, physics to biology and engineering to medicine. In 2013, the two groups implied in the present proposal have been the first to report a “pyrrol-free” porphyrin azaanalogue, named azacalixphyrin, which revealed unique fundamental properties. This joint experiment-theory proposal aims to rapidly assess the properties of these new extremely promising but yet unexplored macrocycles as novel tools for science. We are mainly focussed in two specific directions: on one hand, after having explored the impact of side substitutions we will synthesize an optimal fused dimer whereas, on the other hand, several metallation patterns will be tested and characterized. According to preliminary results, remarkable electronic properties are expected for all these new molecular architectures (metal-metal interactions, absorption and emission in NIR region). We are conviced that EMA will allow the appearance of new concepts for fundamental studies but will also pave the way for new technological applications relying on improved dyes. We can thus envision for these new compounds exceptional versatility in science by analogy to porphyrins.