Photo-induced intermolecular charge transfer in porphyrin complexes

Optical excitation of the sequential supermolecule H_2P-ZnP-Q induces an electron transfer from the free-base porphyrin (H_2P) to the quinone (Q) via the zinc porphyrin (ZnP). This process is modeled by equations of motion for the reduced density matrix which are solved numerically and approximately analytically. These two solutions agree very well in a great region of parameter space. It is shown that for the majority of solvents the electron transfer occurs with the superexchange mechanism.