A zinc chlorophyll derivative possessing an oligoethylene glycol ester at the 17-propionate residue was prepared as a model of specific pigments in chlorosomes, such as bacteriochlorophylls-c, d, and e, by chemical modification of naturally occurring chlorophyll-a. The zinc chlorophyll derivative aggregated in aqueous or hexane solutions containing 1% (v/v) ethanol to give red-shifted and broadened Soret/Qy absorption bands with intense circular dichroism signals, indicating the formation of its chlorosome-like J-type self-aggregates. The atomic force microscope images of the self-aggregates prepared in aqueous or hexane solutions showed thin tube-like (ca. 3 nm diameter) or thick rod-like aggregates (> 20 nm diameter), respectively. After standing these solutions for several days, the nanotubes or nanorods further assembled to give ribbon- or bundle-like aggregates, respectively. The latter transformation (tube to ribbon) was triggered by hydrogen bonding between oligoethylene glycol esters located outside of the tubes via water or ethanol molecules. These dynamic supramolecular transformations may also be useful for revealing the growth process of bacteriochlorophyll self-aggregates in a chlorosome.

锌叶绿素衍生物具有在17-丙酸酯残基的低聚乙二醇酯制备特定颜料在chlorosomes，如bacteriochlorophylls-模型Ç，d，和Ë，由天然存在的叶绿素化学修饰一个。叶绿素锌衍生物在含1％（v / v）乙醇的水溶液或己烷溶液中聚集在一起，产生红移并加宽的Soret / Qy吸收带，并带有强烈的圆二色性信号，表明形成了类似叶绿体的J类型的自聚集。在水溶液或己烷溶液中制备的自聚集体的原子力显微镜图像分别显示出细管状（直径约3 nm）或粗棒状聚集体（直径> 20 nm）。将这些溶液放置几天后，将纳米管或纳米棒进一步组装，分别得到带状或束状聚集体。后者的转化（从管到带）是由位于管外部的低聚乙二醇酯之间通过水或乙醇分子之间的氢键引发的。这些动态的超分子转化也可能有助于揭示细菌在叶绿体中自身叶绿素自聚集体的生长过程。