Molecular materials by self-assembly of porphyrins, phthalocyanines, and perylenes

Porphyrins, phthalocyanines, and perylenes are compounds with great potential for serving as components of molecular materials that possess unique electronic, magnetic and photophysical properties. In general, a highly specific communication between a large number of these chromophores is required in order to express their function to a maximal level, and for this reason it is of importance to construct arrays in which the molecules are organized in well-defined geometrics with respect to their neighbors. This review is an account of some recent efforts to construct highly ordered assemblies of porphyrins, phthalocyanines, and perylenes by means of self-assembly in solution and on surfaces, and by attaching them to polymeric scaffolds.