Bichromophoric multilayer films for the light-controlled generation of nitric oxide and singlet oxygen

In this contribution we report the design, preparation and characterization of bichromophoric Langmuir–Schaefer multilayer films incorporating a tailored nitric oxide (NO) photodonor (1) and an ethylene-bridged zinc porphyrin dimer (2). They are achieved by exploiting the coordination of a pyridine appendage of the NO photodonor to the metal centers of the porphyrin units. Quite uniform floating films at the water–air interface are obtained spreading a mixture of 1:2 in the molar ratio 20:1 as confirmed by Brewster angle microscopy. The floating films are successfully transferred onto quartz slides by horizontal lifting deposition and the resulting hybrid multilayers are characterized by steadystate UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and laser flash photolysis. The high ratio between the two chromogenic centers prevents the porphyrin aggregation, leading to photoresponsive bichromophoric films able to generate NO and singlet oxygen, 1O2 (1Dg), under the exclusive control of visible light stimuli.