The preparation and characterization of a new series of mixed metal cofacial anthracene-bridged diporphyrins(DPA) containing a GaL fragment (L = OMe, OH) and another metallic center (M = GaL, Ru(CO)(OH), Co,and H
2 (i.e. free base)) are reported. The luminescence properties at 298 and 77 K, in degassed EtOH solution,are also reported, and are characterized by a weak
* fluorescence (2 <
F < 7 ns) arising from the low energyQ-bands (S
1S
0). In the mixed diporphyrin systems, a strong
* fluorescence is detected from the free base,while the transition metalloporphyrins of Co(II) and Ru(II) do not emit. The homobimetallic di[Ga(OMe)] speciesexhibits an unprecedented double
* fluorescence arising from the two lowest energy absorption Q-bands. Onthe basis of a comparison with photophysical data on GaL monoporphyrins, the weak fluorescence and absenceof phosphorescence for most cases indicate efficient intramolecular quenching. To define structural features, theX-ray structures of (DPA)[Ga(OMe)]
2 (
2), (DPA)[Ga-(OH)-Ru(CO)] (
5a), and (DPA)[Ga(OMe)-Ru(MeOH)(CO)] (
5b) have been obtained. The structures of
5a and
5b demonstrate an interesting aspect of the structuralchemistry of these ligands related to the internal methoxide and methanolic ligands in
5b (resulting in a largeinterplanar separation and center-to-center distance) and the internal metal-bridging hydroxyl ligand in
5a (resultingin a small interplanar separation and center-to-center distance). These data support previously reported discussionson the ability of the DPA and the DPB analogue (diporphyrinylbiphenylenyl) ligands to open and close their"bite" around the binding pocket between the porphyrin macrocycles.