Conformation and electronic population transfer in membrane-supported self-assembled porphyrin dimers by 2D fluorescence spectroscopy

J Phys Chem B. 2012 Sep 6;116(35):10757-70. doi: 10.1021/jp305916x. Epub 2012 Aug 28.

Abstract

Two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (2D FS) is applied to determine the conformation and femtosecond electronic population transfer in a dimer of magnesium meso tetraphenylporphyrin. The dimers are prepared by self-assembly of the monomer within the amphiphilic regions of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomes. A theoretical framework to describe 2D FS experiments is presented, and a direct comparison is made between the observables of this measurement and those of 2D electronic spectroscopy (2D ES). The sensitivity of the method to varying dimer conformation is explored. A global multivariable fitting analysis of linear and 2D FS data indicates that the dimer adopts a "bent T-shaped" conformation. Moreover, the manifold of singly excited excitons undergoes rapid electronic dephasing and downhill population transfer on the time scale of ∼95 fs. The open conformation of the dimer suggests that its self-assembly is favored by an increase in entropy of the local membrane environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Dimerization
  • Electron Transport
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry
  • Porphyrins / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Porphyrins
  • tetraphenylporphyrin
  • 1,2-distearoyllecithin
  • Magnesium