Light-induced intramolecular electron transfer from a porphyrin linked to a p-benzoquinone by a rigid spacer group

A model of the reaction center in photosynthesis is described which consists of a tetra-arylporphyrin attached to a p-benzoquinone through a bicyclo[2.2.2]octane; fluorescence lifetime data suggest that visible light induces intramolecular electron transfer between the porphyrin and the quinone is much less efficient than in previously reported linked porphyrin–quinone molecules and indicate that it is subject to a novel solvent effect.