Efficient energy transfer from peripheral chromophores to the self-assembled zinc chlorin rod antenna: a bioinspired light-harvesting system to bridge the "green gap".

An artificial light-harvesting rod aggregate based on zinc chlorin and covalently linked naphthalene bisimide chromophore has been realized by self-assembly. Efficient energy transfer (phiET >/= 0.99) takes place upon excitation at 620 nm from peripheral naphthalene bisimides to the zinc chlorin rod aggregate backbone.