Photophysical properties of a novel Ni(II)-diporphyrin in presence of fullerenes: insights from experimental and theoretical studies.

The present paper highlights the photophysical aspects of the topologically new Ni(II)-diporphyrin (Ni(2)-1)/fullerene host-guest ensembles. Both absorption and fluorescence studies reveal that Ni(2)-1 undergoes efficient complexation with both C(60) and C(70) in toluene medium. In the fluorescence study, remarkable enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of Ni(2)-1 was observed by the addition of C(60), while normal quenching of fluorescence occurred in case of C(70). From the fluorescence and UV-vis studies, the binding constants of Ni(2)-1 with C(60) and C(70) were determined to be approximately 1.7 x 10(4) and approximately 2.7 x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1), respectively. Ab initio theoretical calculations reveal that C(70)/Ni(2)-1 complex favor end-on orientation of C(70) rather than side-on approach.