Syntheses of tetraphenylporphyrin Schiff bases and their Cu complexes by direct aminolysis of the intermediates of the Vilsmeier reaction are described. Fluorescence spectra (in benzene or DMF) and light-minus-dark optical difference spectrum (in CH2Cl2) of the synthesized I (P-AQ; R = a- and b-anthraquinonyl) were examined in Ar atomsphere The similarity in the optical difference spectrum of I and covalently linked porphyrin-benzoquinone implied the presence of a biradical ion pair P?-AQ?. Photoinduced intramol. electron transfer in a mol. of I might account for the enhanced fluorescence quenching. In fact, the fluorescence quenching for I is greater than for the mixture of P and AQ.

Key words: ANTHRAQUINONE P, SCHIFF BASE, PORPHYRIN