An Approach from Organic Synthesis Toward Elucidating the Mechanism of Super Energy Transfer Efficiencies of Carotenoids in Photosynthesis

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Peridinin and fucoxanthin are known as representative auxiliary light harvesting pigments for photosynthesis in the sea. In the super complexes constructed with these carotenoids, chlorophyll and protein, respectively, exceptionally high (>85%) energy transfer efficiencies from the carotenoids to chlorophyll have been reported. This high efficiency is thought to be related to the unique structure of the carotenoids, which possesse allene and carbonyl functions. There are, however, no studies on the relation between the structural features of these carotenoids and their super ability of the energy transfer. We then focused on the subjects of how these functions play a role in the exceptionally highly energy transfer. We have achieved the efficient syntheses of these natural carotenoids and their modified derivatives on allene and conjugated polyene. Measurements of their ultrafast time resolved spectra and Stark spectra have strongly suggested that the structural feature of the both carotenoids has essentially contributed to their super ability of the energy transfer.