A practical approach to the study of photoactive self-assembled porphyrin systems

An overview of simple methods for the determination, by UV-vis spectroscopy, of association constants of porphyrin based, self-assembling components is presented. Sources of ambiguity and errors are outlined in order to provide non-specialists with basic information. A few cases of self-assembled structures based on porphyrins and displaying photoinduced energy and electron transfer processes are reviewed and evidence is given that a correct determination and interpretation of the association phenomena are of key importance for the interpretation of the photoinduced processes within the array. Copyright (C) 2003 Society of Porphyrins & Phthatocyanines.