Novel imidazolylethynyl-zinc-porphyrin 1a and its meso,meso-linked bisporphyrin 5M were synthesized effectively by the reaction of the corresponding bromoporphyrins and 2-imidazolylethyne in the presence of palladium-arsenic catalyst. The complementary coordination of monomer 1a into dimer 2a was observed by 1 H NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Self-association constant of 1a to 2a in CHCl 3 (including 0.5% ethanol) was determined as 1.84×10 7 M −1 by UV–Vis titration of 2a with N-methylimidazole. UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1a, 2a, monomer 5M, and its polymer 5P were compared.