A push–pull unsymmetrical subphthalocyanine dimer

Unsymmetrical subphthalocyanine fused dimers have been prepared from appropriate ortho-dinitrile SubPc precursors. In particular, either electron-donating or electron-accepting substituents have been introduced on each SubPc constituent unit, resulting in unprecedented push–pull π-extended curved aromatic macrocycles. From fluorescence experiments in solvents of different polarity we conclude a dual fluorescence, namely a delocalized singlet excited state (1.73 eV) and a polarized charge transfer state (<1.7 eV). Pump probe experiments corroborate the dual nature of the fluorescence. On one hand, the delocalized singlet excited state gives rise to a several nanosecond lasting intersystem crossing yielding the corresponding triplet excited state. On the other hand, the polarized charge transfer state deactivates within a few picosesonds. Visualization of the charge transfer state was accomplished by means of molecular modeling with a slight polarization of the HOMO towards the electron donor and of the LUMO towards the electron acceptor.