Comparative study of spectroscopic properties of α- or β-butyloxy-substituted tribenzotetraazachlorin-fullerene conjugates

Mixed condensation of 1,2-dicyanofullerene (1) and 3,6-dibutyloxyphthalonitrile (2a) in the presence of nickel chloride dihydrate ( NiCl2·2H2O ) in quinoline forms an α-hexabutyloxy-substituted tribenzotetraazachlorin (TBTAC)-fullerene ( C 60) conjugate (3). UV-vis absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) properties of 3 have been obtained, and the results compared with those of the β-substituted isomer (4). Although the absorption spectra of 3 and 4 are similar in shape, a significant band shift to longer wavelength is observed for 3. According to the results of DFT calculations, the observed spectroscopic differences are ascribed to differences in the distribution of the MO amplitudes at the α- and β-positions of the TBTAC moiety.