Symmetry-breaking charge transfer in BODIPY-, porphyrin-, and phthalocyanine-derived symmetric dimers

Symmetry-breaking charge transfer (SB-CT) has become a fundamental excited-state process through which symmetric molecular assemblies create polarized charge-separated states without permanent donor-acceptor asymmetry. By leveraging electronic degeneracy, vibronic coupling, and environmental stabilization, symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) enables directional charge separation with minimal energy loss, offering a strong alternative to traditional donor-acceptor systems. In this review,