An ab initio CI study of electronic spectra of substituted free-base porphyrins

Ab initio calculations at the CI (singles) level of theory were carried out for the ground state and the singlet and triplet excited states of substit uted free-base porphyrins. The results predict a substantial red-shift in t he long-wavelength electronic spectra of compounds due to the push-pull sub stitution at the pi-system of the porphyrin ring or due to the substitution by a nitro-group. The compounds and their derivatives may be good candidat es for deep-penetrating photodynamic therapeutic agents. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.