Stacked Zinc Triporphyrin as a Photoinduced Molecular Wire in Bilayers

A molecule with three stacked zinc‐porphyrin cycles and two basket‐handles has been synthesized and incorporated into a bilayer lipid membrane. Under light excitation and in the presence of redox compounds in the aqueous phases bathing the membrane, this molecule induces a net electron flux across the membrane. The experimental variations of the flux with some external physicochemical parameters are accounted for by a tentative mechanism which relies on the ability of the porphyrin to act as an electron wire.