4. Synthesis of Ortho, Meta and Para Bis-Copper Porphyrin Nanorings

The synthesis of three isomers of bis-copper 6-porphyrin nanorings is described. The structures differ only in the relative positions of the copper porphyrins within the ring. Generally, J coupling is expected to decay exponentially as a function of through-bond distance. However, DFT calculations performed by Dr. Martin Peeks suggest that the coupling between the two copper centres in a 6-porphyrin nanoring does not solely depend on the distance between the ions, indicating potential interference phenomena. Experimental evidence to support these calculations would provide a relatively simple molecular system with behaviour resembling that of a hypothetical molecular interferometer. This chapter only describes the synthesis and characterisation of the rings. EPR measurements are currently underway.