Presenter: Mackay Steffensen
Authors: Caden Cannon, Mackay Steffensen
Faculty Advisor: Mackay Steffensen
Institution: Southern Utah University
Tetrameric pyrrole photosystems are used by cyanobacteria and cryptophyte algae for light-harvesting. Our prior work focused on the synthesis of dipyrrole molecules for use as surrogates in studying the more complex tetrameric pyrroles. In biological cells the organized and complex nature of binding pockets prevent deactivation of the pyrroles excited state due to limited torsional motion about the rings. A series of methyl, ethyl, and propyl alkyl bridged pyrroles have been identified with the intention to limit the conformations of the model system and ideally mimic conformations accessiblein vivo. The proposed syntheses and outcomes of our efforts will be discussed. Upon successful syntheses of these target compounds, the molecules will be passed along to Dr. Dean of the Physical Science Department. Utilizing specialized cold spectroscopy instrumentation, the photo-initiated vibrations that mediate efficient, rapid, and long-range energy transfer will be investigated, comparing the model compound’s photophysical properties to those found in biological systems.