Synthesis of self‐aggregative zinc chlorophylls possessing polymerizable esters as a atable model compound for main light‐harvesting antennas of green photosynthetic bacteria

Zinc bacteriochlorophyll‐d derivatives possessing a polymerizable moiety at the 17‐propionate were prepared as model compounds of natural occurring chlorophylls in the main peripheral antennas of green photosynthetic bacteria (chlorosomes). The synthetic compounds self‐aggregated in nonpolar organic solvents as well as in the solid state to give large oligomers similar to chlorosomal J‐aggregates. Such introduction of the polymerizable groups in the ester did not suppress the ability of self‐aggregation.