Oligomeric porphyrin arrays

The field of synthesis and physical characterization of oligomeric porphyri n arrays has been the subject of intense research in recent years. Some of these systems present unique physical and optical properties which reflect the extent of electronic interaction between the monomers in the array, and determines their potential applications in chemistry, physics, and biology . General synthetic approaches to a multitude of porphyrin arrays, includin g directly linked meso-meso, meso-beta, and beta-beta compounds, oligoporph yrins with fused pi-systems, and arrays bearing rigid or flexible spacers, developed by us and by others, are described. X-Ray structures of represent ative compounds are presented.