Fluoride-ion-binding promoted photoinduced charge separation in a self-assembled C 60 alkyl cation bound bis-crown ether-oxoporphyrinogen supramolecule.

A bis-crown ether-oxoporphyrinogen was newly synthesized and self-assembled concurrently with C60 alkyl ammonium cations at the crown ether sites and F- anions (through hydrogen bonding) at the oxoporphyrinogen core. Ultrafast photoinduced charge transfer processes within the donor-acceptor conjugate were promoted by fluoride ion binding and this was established using various spectroscopic methods and transient absorption studies.