We report on the efficient use of different coordinative affin-
ities to quantitatively construct a three-component multi-
chromophore system containing one free-base porphyrin,
one aluminium(III) monopyridylporphyrin, and one ruth-
enium(II) tetraphenylporphyrin in a single step. The Al III
monopyridylporphyrin plays the pivotal role in directing the
correct self-assembly process, and it behaves as the antenna
unit for the photoinduced processes of interest. A two-com-
ponent system, containing the same free-base porphyrin and
one aluminium(III) tetraphenylporphyrin, was prepared for comparative studies. Both systems are remarkably stable in
chlorinated solutions. Their photophysical behaviour was
studied in detail by stationary and time-resolved emission
techniques. In the two-component system, fast and efficient
singlet energy transfer from the Al–porphyrin to the free-
base porphyrin is observed; in the three-component system,
upon excitation of the Al–porphyrin, a fast (minor of 250 ps) electron transfer process from the Ru–porphyrin to the aluminium–porphyrin is observed.
