Ethane-bridged Zn porphyrins dimers (ZnPP) have been deposited by Langmuir-Schäfer (LS) deposition technique onto proper transducer layers for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and magneto-optical surface plasmon resonance (MO-SPR) characterization techniques performed in controlled atmosphere. This last tool has emerged as a novel and very performing sensing technique using as transducer layers a combination of noble and magnetic layers deposited onto glass substrates. A magnetic actuation allows recording a magneto optical SPR signal which ensures best gas sensing performances in terms of signal to noise ratio, sensitivity and limit of detection parameters. Primary and secondary amines in vapour phase have been used as sensing analytes and a possible explanation of the mechanism as well as of the dynamics of the interaction with the sensing Zn Porphyrin layers is provided. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ; This work has been funded by the European Commission (NMP3-SL-2008-214107-Nanomagma), and by the Italian Ministry of Education (FIRB project-Nanoplasmag). The Spanish MICINN (projects MAPS MAT2011-29194-C02-01 and Funcoat Consolider CSD2008-00023) and Comunidad de Madrid (projects Nanobiomagnet S2009/MAT – 1726 and Microseres S2009/TIC – 1476) are also acknowledged. E.F.-V. thanks CSIC for his JAE fellowship, and the Phantoms Foundation and the nanoICT Coordination Action for the funding of a short stay in Lecce. ; S2009/MAT-1726/Nanobiomagnet ; S2009/TIC-1476/Microseres ; Peer Reviewed