Excitational energy and photoinduced electron transfer reactions in Ge(IV) corrole–porphyrin hetero dimers

We have constructed hetero dimers by utilizing the axial bonding capabilities as well as known oxophilicity of Germanium(IV) ion of Germanium(IV) corroles as basal scaffolding unit and either free-base or ZnII porphyrin at axial position for the first time. Both the hetero dimers have been completely characterized by elemental analysis, UV–visible, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 1H–1H COSY) and fluorescence spectroscopies as well as electrochemical methods. The ground state properties indicate that there exists a minimum π–π interactions between the macrocyclic units of these dyads. Excited state properties showed that there is an electronic energy transfer competing photoinduced electron transfer from singlet state of basal metalloid corrole to the axial porphyrin and a photoinduced electron transfer from excited state of axial porphyrin to the ground state of central metalloid corrole are possible. -- Highlights: ▪ • We have constructed hetero dimers based on corrole–porphyrin by utilizing axial position of Ge(IV) corrole. • There exists mimum π–π interactions between the macrocyclic units. • The excited state properties indicate that both excitation energy transfer and photoinduced electron transfer reactions are possible in these hetero dimers