Post-synthetic DNA modification with porphyrins for DNA-templated supramolecular assemblies

The use of azide-alkyne cycloaddition ("click chemistry"), both Cu-catalysed and Cu-free, was probed to attach different porphyrins onto oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), and the efficiency was compared to amide coupling reaction. Terminal attachment using the different methodologies provides porphyrin-ODNs in varying yields, and the porphyrin-ODNs can be transformed into multiporphyrin arrays using DNA-templated assembly. These arrays show exciton coupling between the porphyrin units and thus demonstrate an efficient and alternative route to multiporphyrin assemblies.