Synthesis, Characterization and Electronic Properties of trans ‐[4‐(Alkoxycarbonyl)phenyl]porphyrin‐[Ru II (bpy) 3 ] 2 Complexes or Boron–Dipyrrin Conjugates as Panchromatic Sensitizers for DSSCs

Two porphyrin‐based dyes were synthesized that incorporate two additional chromophores to absorb in a wider UV/Vis region. In the first dye, a porphyrin ring is linked through an amide bond to two [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ units, forming a symmetric [Ru(bpy) 3 ]‐porphyrin‐[Ru(bpy) 3 ] {Por(COOH) 2 [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2 } system. The second porphyrin is trans substituted through a triple bond to the meso position with two boron dipyrrin (BDP) molecules {Por(COOH) 2 (BDP) 2 }. Both porphyrins bear two carboxylic groups capable of binding onto a TiO 2 surface, with potential applications in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The title dyes were characterized by means of 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, MALDI‐TOF, UV/Vis absorption and emission studies.