Self-assembly, binding, and dynamic properties of heterodimeric porphyrin macrocycles

[GRAPHICS] A series of heterodimeric tetralactam macrocycles have been self-assembled using two kinetically labile zinc porphyrin-pyridine interactions. The stability constants have been determined by UVvis titrations in CHCl(3). The stability constants depend on the degree of preorganization of the linker units connecting the interacting groups. The ability of the self-assembled macrocycles to bind a terephthalamide guest was also investigated. One of the macrocycles was used for the construction of a [2]rotaxane. The dynamic properties of this system provide insight into the exchange mechanisms that operate in complex noncovalent assemblies.