Ligand-induced interconversion of a coordination-organized porphyrin dimer: a potential fluorescence-based molecular memory monitor.

A novel interconversion system between less-fluorescent stacked (S) dimer and fluorescent extended (E) dimer of the monoimidazolylbisporphyrinatozinc complex was investigated. The addition of pyridine induces transformation from the S to the E dimer, whereas the addition of acetic acid and subsequent heating reverses the transformation. The interconversion rate is controlled by ligand concentration and thermal treatment.