Synthesis, Spectroscopic Properties, and Metalation of 3-Alkoxybenziporphyrins

A series of 5-alkoxy-1,3-benzenedicarbaldehydes and related dimers were prepared in three steps from dimethyl 5-hydroxyisophthalate. Acid catalyzed condensation of the dialdehydes with a tripyrrane dicarboxylic acid, followed by oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, afforded good yields of 3-alkoxybenziporphyrins, although dimeric tetraaldehydes failed to give isolatable porphyrinoid products. Proton NMR spectroscopy gave no indication of an aromatic ring current, but addition of trifluoroacetic acid resulted in the formation of dications that exhibited weakly diatropic characteristics. Spectroscopic titration with TFA demonstrated that stepwise protonation took place, generating monocationic and dicationic species. 3-Alkoxybenziporphyrins reacted with nickel(II) or palladium(II) acetate to give the related nickel(II) or palladium(II) complexes. These stable organometallic derivatives showed increased diatropic properties that were most pronounced for the palladium(II) complexes. These unique porphyrinoids provide further insights into the properties of benziporphyrins.

Organometallic Chemistry within the Structured Environment Provided by the Macrocyclic Cores of Carbaporphyrins and Related Systems

The unique environment within the core of carbaporphyrinoid systems provides a platform to explore unusual organometallic chemistry. The ability of these structures to form stable organometallic derivatives was first demonstrated for N-confused porphyrins but many other carbaporphyrin-type systems were subsequently shown to exhibit similar or complementary properties. Metalation commonly occurs with catalytically active transition metal cations and the resulting derivatives exhibit widely different physical, chemical and spectroscopic properties and range from strongly aromatic to nonaromatic and antiaromatic species. Metalation may trigger unusual, highly selective, oxidation reactions. Alkyl group migration has been observed within the cavity of metalated carbaporphyrins, and in some cases ring contraction of the carbocyclic subunit takes place. Over the past thirty years, studies in this area have led to multiple synthetic routes to carbaporphyrinoid ligands and remarkable organometallic chemistry has been reported. An overview of this important area is presented.

Deciphering structure and aggregation in asphaltenes: hypothesis-driven design and development of synthetic model compounds

Asphaltenes comprise the heaviest and least understood fraction of crude petroleum. The asphaltenes are a diverse and complex mixture of organic and organometallic molecules in which most of the molecular constituents are tightly aggregated into more complicated suprastructures. The bulk properties of asphaltenes arise from a broad range of polycyclic aromatics, heteroatoms, and polar functional groups. Despite much analytical effort, the precise molecular architectures of the material remain unresolved. To understand asphaltene characteristics and reactivity, the field has turned to synthetic model compounds that mirror asphaltene structure, aggregation behavior, and thermal chemistry, including the nucleation of coke. Historically, molecular asphaltene modeling was limited to commercial compounds, offering little illumination and few opportunities for hypothesis-driven research. More recently, however, rational molecular design and modern organic synthesis have started to impact this area. This review provides an overview of commercially available model compounds but is principally focused on the design and synthesis of structurally advanced and appropriately functionalized compounds to mimic the physical and chemical behavior of asphaltenes. Efforts to model asphaltene aggregation are briefly discussed, and a prognosis for the field is offered. A referenced tabulation of the synthetic compounds reported to date is provided.

Classic highlights in porphyrin and porphyrinoid total synthesis and biosynthesis

Porphyrins feature prominently in nature, be it as enzymatic cofactors, electron and exciton shuffles, as photoactive dyes, or as signaling substances. Their involvement in the generation, storage and use of oxygen is pivotal to life, while their photochemical properties are central to the biochemical functioning of plants. When complexed to metals, porphyrins can engage in a multitude of contemporary applications ranging from solar energy generation to serving as catalysts for important chemical reactions. They are also able to function as useful theranostic agents, and as novel materials for a wide range of applications. As such, they are widely considered to be highly valuable molecules, and it almost goes without saying that synthetic organic chemistry has dramatically underpinned all the key advances made, by providing reliable access to them. In fact, strategies for the synthesis of functionalized porphyrins have now reached a state of refinement where pretty well any desired porphyrin can successfully be synthesized with the approaches that are available, including a cornucopia of related macrocycle-modified porphyrinoids. In this review, we are going to illustrate the development of this exciting field by discussing a number of classic syntheses of porphyrins. Our coverage will encompass the natural protoporphyrins and chlorophylls, while also covering general strategies for the synthesis of unsymmetrical porphyrins and chlorins. Various industrial syntheses of porphyrins will also be discussed, as will other routes of great practical importance, and avenues to key porphyrinoids with modified macrocycles. A range of selected examples of contemporary functionalization reactions will be highlighted. The various key syntheses will be described and analyzed from a traditional mechanistic organic chemistry perspective to help student readers, and those who are new to this area. The aim will be to allow readers to mechanistically appreciate and understand how many of these fascinating ring-systems are built and further functionalized.

Synthesis and Characterization of N-Methylporphyrins, Heteroporphyrins, Carbaporphyrins, and Related Systems

MacDonald-type "3 + 1" condensations of an N-methyltripyrrane with a series of dialdehydes afforded a matched set of N-methylporphyrins, N-methylheteroporphyrins, N-methyloxybenziporphyrin, N-methyloxypyriporphyrin, N-methyltropiporphyrin, and a N-methylcarbaporphyrin aldehyde. meso-Unsubstituted heteroporphyrins have been little explored previously, and this strategy was also used to prepare N-unsubstituted 21-oxa-, 21-thia-, and 21-selenaporphyrins. In every case, the N-methylporphyrinoids exhibited weaker, bathochromically shifted UV-Vis absorptions compared to their core unsubstituted congeners. However, proton NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that these derivatives retained strong diamagnetic ring currents and the presence of the internal alkyl substituents had little effect on the global aromatic characteristics. Nevertheless, the UV-Vis spectra of N-methyl-oxybenzi- and N-methyl-oxypyriporphyrins were dramatically altered and gave greatly weakened absorptions. N-Methyl-oxybenzi- and N-methyltropiporphyrins reacted with palladium(II) acetate to give stable palladium(II) complexes, demonstrating that N-alkylation alters the metalation properties for these carbaporphyrinoids. The organometallic derivatives also retained strongly aromatic properties, and the proton NMR spectra showed the N-methyl resonances near -3 ppm. N-Methylcarbaporphyrin-2-carbaldehyde also gave a palladium(II) complex, but this gradually rearranged at higher temperatures to afford a C-methyl complex. The results demonstrate that core alkylation of porphyrinoids greatly alters the reactivity and spectroscopic properties for these systems.

What’s in a name? The MacDonald condensation

In 1960, MacDonald and coworkers introduced a new method for porphyrin synthesis that involved the acid-catalyzed condensation of dipyrrylmethane dialdehydes with [Formula: see text],[Formula: see text]-diunsubstituted dipyrrylmethanes or the related dicarboxylic acids, followed by an air oxidation. The key bond forming steps entail electrophilic substitution at two pyrrole units with the aldehyde moieties to generate, following elimination of water, a 5,15-dihydroporphyrin or porphodimethene intermediate. Following addition of sodium acetate, or in later procedures zinc acetate, the dihydroporphyrins readily air oxidize to the fully aromatic porphyrin system. This strategy, which parallels chemistry contemporaneously developed by R. B. Woodward at Harvard for the total synthesis of chlorophyll [Formula: see text], demonstrated that dipyrrylmethanes were sufficiently stable to be utilized as intermediates in porphyrin syntheses and that porphodimethene formation circumvented acidolytic scrambling reactions that might lead to isomeric porphyrin products. This type of chemistry was later adapted by Johnson, Woodward and others to prepare porphyrin-type systems by a “3 + 1” strategy, or expanded porphyrins by “3 + 2” or other combinations of oligopyrrolic precursors. In recent years, the term “MacDonald condensation” has been increasingly used to describe other types of chemistry involving oligopyrrolic intermediates. Following on from a historical review of this area, guidelines for the identification of MacDonald-type reactions are proposed.

Syntheses and chemistry of porphyrins

Common methods available for the preparation of useful porphyrins from naturally derived heme and by total synthesis from monopyrroles are presented. Such porphyrins can be used for numerous reactivity and structural modification studies of the type which will be presented in minisymposia (including that entitled ‘Syntheses and Chemistry of Porphyrins’) at the First International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (ICPP-1).

Modification of the porphyrin chromophore by ring fusion: identifying trends due to annelation of the porphyrin nucleus

The effects exerted by fused aromatic rings on the UV-vis spectra of porphyrins are surveyed. Modified porphyrin chromophores with fused benzene, 1,2-naphthalene, 9,10-phenanthrene or phenanthroline rings are surprisingly little affected even when a maximum number of ring fusions are incorporated. Linearly annealed naphtho- or anthraporphyrins show large red shifts to the Q bands but the Soret absorptions are weakened and undergo only minor bathochromic shifts. Fluoranthoporphyrins give multiple bands in the Soret region, but the Q band region is virtually unaffected by this tetracyclic ring system. On the other hand, metal chelates of fluoranthoporphyrins show surprisingly strong bands near 600 nm. Benzothiadiazole rings split and weaken the Soret band, but the Q bands region is unexceptional. However, metal coordination again produces relatively intense bands near 600 nm. The most significant results were obtained for porphyrins with fused acenaphthylene rings. Monoacenaphthoporphyrins (41) have three Soret bands at 387, 431 and 454 nm, and the longest wavelength Q band is shifted to 658 nm. opp-Diacenaphthoporphyrin (43) further shifts these bands with two Soret absorbances at 443 and 470 nm, and an additional strong peak is observed at 692 nm. The metal complexes of these systems also show strong bands between 602 and 656 nm. Still larger effects are produced by tetraacenaphthoporphyrin (47), the dication for which in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)–chloroform has a Soret absorption at 528 nm. Tetraaryltetraacenaphthoporphyrins (48) are even more red shifted, showing Soret bands between 556 and 570 nm for the free bases and 565 to 588 nm for the related dications. The lead(II) chelate for tetraphenylporphyrin (48a) shows an additional 'hyper' spectral shift that brings the Soret band to 604 nm, and this effect can also be achieved by introducing four meso-phenylethynyl substituents onto the tetraacenaphthoporphyrin nucleus (49). In addition, by combining these two factors for the lead(II) chelate of 49, a record-breaking value for the Soret band of 642 nm can be achieved. Spectral shifts due to ring annelation in porphyrin analogues are also discussed, including those for oxybenziporphyrins, oxypyriporphyrins, carbaporphyrins and sapphyrins.

Establishing a library of porphyrin building blocks for superstructured assemblies: porphyrin dienes and dienophiles for cycloaddition reactions

The synthesis and utility of a series of porphyrins with (masked) diene and dienophile functionality are described. The key porphyrin diene is synthesised from a sulfolenopyrrole by a 3+1 strategy. A range of Diels-Alder cycloadducts is readily accessed from the diene by mild thermal extrusion of sulfur dioxide from the sulfolenoporphyrin, which produces the reactive porphodimethylidene. Each of these cycloadducts is fused to the porphyrin nucleus through a cyclohexene ring thus retaining some conformational flexibility in the resultant structures. The structures can be rigidified by mild oxidation to the corresponding benzo-derivatives. Diels-Alder reaction of the porphyrin 1,3-diene resulting from the sulfolenoporphyrin with norbornadiene produces the norbornene derivative, which can serve as a dienophile or dipolarophile in subsequent cycloaddition reactions. Nevertheless, a preferred route to this structure is through a corresponding 1+3 route, where the norbornene component is part of the tripyrrane. Extension of the synthetic protocols allows ready access to a “mixed function” porphyrin, containing both diene and dienophile components. Likewise, the synthesis of a bis-norbornene porphyrin is described. A collection of each of these reactive components is the basis for a library of building blocks which allows easy and simple entry to a wide variety of complex porphyrin-containing superstructures.

Antifungal activity of extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris against Aspergillus flavus and A. ochraceus

The antifungal activity of ethanolic extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris were tested against strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. ochraceus, since these two species are common contaminants of cereals and grains and are able to produce and accumulate mycotoxins. The methodology used is based on measuring the inhibition halos produced by discs impregnated with the extracts and establishing their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) as well as the Minimum Fungicide Concentration (MFC). The results obtained suggest that the assayed extracts affect the proper development of A. flavus and A. ochraceus; leading to a lower MIC (1200 ppm) and MFC (2400 ppm) for T. vulgaris extract against A. ochraceus than against A. flavus. The results show, that the extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris used at low concentrations could have significant potential for the biological control of fungi in foodstuffs.

Aromatic and Nonaromatic Pyriporphyrins

Pyriporphyrins with three different orientations for the pyridine moiety have been prepared using a '3 + 1' strategy. The nonaromatic pyriporphyrins are stable so long as phenyl substituents are present at the meso-positions adjacent to the pyridine ring. An aromatic dihydropyriporphyrin with an external CO2Ph protective group has also been prepared from 2,4-pyridinedicarbaldehyde.

Tetraphenyloxybenziporphyrin, a New Organometallic Ligand for Silver(III) and Gold(III)

[Structure: see text] Reaction of 4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde with excess phenyl magnesium bromide gave a dicarbinol and this condensed with pyrrole and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of BF3.Et2O to afford, following oxidation with DDQ, novel tetraarylcarbaporphyrinoids in 10-24% yield. Further reaction with silver(I) acetate or gold(III) acetate gave stable organometallic derivatives that retained the aromatic characteristics of the parent macrocycle.

[22]Porphyrin-(3.1.1.3), a New Vinylogous Expanded Porphyrin System

Acid-catalyzed condensation of a pyrrole bisacrylaldehyde with a tripyrrane, followed by oxidation with ferric chloride, gave a [22]porphyrin-(3.1.1.3). This stretched macrocycle shows a strong diamagnetic ring current by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and gives red-shifted porphyrin-like UV-vis spectra; coordination with palladium(II) induces an EZ isomerization to accommodate the metal cation while retaining highly diatropic characteristics. [structure: see text]

Benzoporphyrins via an olefin ring-closure metathesis methodology

A new route to benzoporphyrins is reported in which readily available vicinal dibromoporphyrins are bis-allylated using the Suzuki reaction, cyclized by way of olefin metathesis and finally oxidized to give mono-, di-, or tri-benzoporphyrins.

Synthesis of Mono- and Disubstituted Porphyrins: A- and 5,10-A2-Type Systems

General syntheses have been developed for meso-substituted porphyrins with one or two substituents in the 5,10-positions and no beta substituents. 5-Substituted porphyrins with only one meso substituent are easily prepared by an acid-catalyzed condensation of dipyrromethane, pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde, and an appropriate aldehyde using a "[2+1+1]" approach. Similarly, 5,10-disubstituted porphyrins are accessible by simple condensation of unsubstituted tripyrrane with pyrrole and various aldehydes using a "[3+1]" approach. The yields for these reactions are low to moderate and additional formation of either di- or monosubstituted porphyrins due to scrambling of the intermediates is observed. However, the reactions can be performed quite easily and the desired target compounds are easily removed due to large differences in solubility. A complementary and more selective synthesis involves the use of organolithium reagents for S(N)Ar reactions. Reaction of in situ generated porphyrin (porphine) with 1.1-8 equivalents of RLi gave the monosubstituted porphyrins, while reaction with 3-6 equivalents of RLi gave the 5,10-disubstituted porphyrins in yields ranging from 43 to 90 %. These hitherto almost inaccessible compounds complete the series of different homologues of A-, 5,15-A(2)-, 5,10-A(2)-, A(3)-, and A(4)-type porphyrins and allow an investigation of the gradual influence of type, number, and regiochemical arrangement of substituents on the properties of meso-substituted porphyrins. They also present important starting materials for the synthesis of ABCD porphyrins and are potential synthons for supramolecular materials requiring specific substituent orientations.

Synthesis of Isomeric Angularly Annealed Dinaphthoporphyrin Systems: Examination of the Relative Positioning and Orientation of Ring Fusion as Factors Influencing the Porphyrin Chromophore

Porphyrins built up from two naphtho[1,2-c]pyrrole subunits and two beta-substituted pyrroles can produce five isomeric dinaphthoporphyrin systems. To gain insights into the effects of ring fusion on extended porphyrin chromophores, all five of these systems were synthesized in isomerically pure form. In four of these syntheses, dihydronaphthopyrroles were used to introduce one or both of the naphthalene subunits, and dehydrogenation with DDQ in refluxing toluene later produced the fully conjugated systems. Naphthopyrroles were also prepared by reacting isocyanoacetate esters with 1-nitronaphthalene in the presence of a phosphazene base. These compounds proved to be less stable than their dihydronaphthopyrrolic counterparts but could still be utilized in these synthetic studies. Three isomeric adj-dinaphthoporphyrin systems were prepared using the MacDonald "2 + 2" condensation or by the cyclization of a,c-biladiene intermediates with copper(II) chloride or AgIO(3)-Zn(OAc)(2). A dinaphthoporphyrin with two naphthalene units pointing toward one another could only be obtained in low yields due to a combination of stability and steric factors, but the other two adj-difused systems were isolated in good overall yields. However, the final dehydrogenation step occurred in moderate yields (50-60%) and could only be performed when the porphyrins bore propionate ester side chains that produced sufficient solubility in organic solvents. The two related opp-dinaphthoporphyrins were synthesized by a "head-to-tail" self-condensation of a dipyrrylmethane aldehyde, or a "3 + 1" synthesis using a tripyrrane intermediate bearing two fused dihydronaphthalene moieties, in excellent yields. In both cases, a final dehydrogenation step was required, but the opp-dinaphthoporphyrins were consistently formed in virtually quantitative yields. The opp-dinaphthoporphyrin series gave UV-vis spectra with relatively strong Soret bands at 425 nm, and the visible region was dominated by an unusually strong Q-band III. The adj-dinaphthoporphyrins produced broader less intense Soret bands and four well-defined Q-bands, including a relatively strong absorption at 645 nm. However, the relative orientation of the naphthalene rings had no significant effects on these spectra. On the other hand, the dications produced in TFA-chloroform solutions showed more discrimination between the individual porphyrin systems, and the metallo derivatives also displayed significant variations in their electronic absorption spectra.

Synthesis, Spectroscopy, and Reactivity of meso-Unsubstituted Azuliporphyrins and Their Heteroanalogues. Oxidative Ring Contractions to Carba-, Oxacarba-, Thiacarba-, and Selenacarbaporphyrins

This paper reports the first detailed study on meso-unsubstituted azuliporphyrins, an important family of porphyrin-like molecules where one of the usual pyrrole rings has been replaced by an azulene subunit. Although the azulene moiety introduces an element of cross-conjugation, zwitterionic resonance contributors with tropylium and carbaporphyrin substructures give azuliporphyrins diatropic character that falls midway between true carbaporphyrins and nonaromatic benziporphyrins. Protonation affords an aromatic dication where this type of resonance interaction is favored due to the associated charge delocalization. Two different "3 + 1" syntheses of meso-unsubstituted azuliporphyrins have been developed. Acid-catalyzed reaction of readily available tripyrrane dicarboxylic acids with 1,3-azulenedicarbaldehyde, followed by oxidation with DDQ or FeCl(3), affords good yields of azuliporphyrins. Alternatively, azulene reacted with acetoxymethylpyrroles (2 equiv) in refluxing acetic acid/2-propanol to give tripyrrane analogues, and following a deprotection step, condensation with a pyrrole dialdehyde in TFA-CH(2)Cl(2) gave the azuliporphyrin system. The latter approach was also used to prepare 23-thia- and 23-selenaazuliporphyrins. However, reaction of the azulitripyrrane with 2,5-furandicarbaldehyde produced a mixture of three oxacarbaporphyrins in moderate yield. The free base forms of thia- and selenaazuliporphyrins both showed intermediary aromatic character that was considerably enhanced upon protonation. The UV-vis spectra for azuliporphyrins and their heteroanalogues showed four bands between 350 and 500 nm and broad absorptions at higher wavelengths. Addition of TFA gave dications that showed porphyrin-like spectra with Soret bands between 460 and 500 nm. In the presence of pyrrolidine, azuliporphyrins and their heteroanalogues undergo nucleophilic attack on the seven-membered ring to give carbaporphyrin adducts. These systems also undergo oxidative rearrangements under basic conditions with t-BuOOH to give benzocarbaporphyrins. The selenaazuliporphyrin afforded two benzoselenacarbaporphyrins, a previously unknown core-modified carbaporphyrin system. The proton NMR spectra for these compounds showed strong diatropic ring currents with the internal CH resonance upfield above -5 ppm, while the meso-protons resonated downfield near 10 ppm. The UV-vis spectra were also porphyrin-like and gave strong Soret bands at ca. 440 nm.

Synthesis of Sapphyrins, Heterosapphyrins, and Carbasapphyrins by a “4 + 1” Approach

Sapphyrins are an important group of expanded porphyrins that show valuable anion binding characteristics. In this study, a "4 + 1" route to sapphyrin systems has been developed. Reaction of dialdehydes with a known tetrapyrrole intermediate 11b incorporating a bipyrrolic subunit afforded a wide range of sapphyrin-type products. The best conditions for these reactions involved carrying out the condensation of the dialdehydes with the tetrapyrrole in TFA-dichloromethane, followed by oxidation with dilute aqueous solutions of ferric chloride. A pyrrole dialdehyde reacted under these conditions to give sapphyrin in 50% yield, while furan and thiophene dialdehydes afforded the corresponding oxa- and thiasapphyrins in 66-90% yield. Pyrrole dialdehydes with fused phenanthrene or acenaphthylene rings also reacted with 11b to give the related phenanthro- and acenaphthosapphyrins in excellent yields. As was the case for acenaphthoporphyrins, the acenaphthosapphyrin gave longer wavelength absorptions than the corresponding phenanthrene fused structure, although the differences were not as marked as those seen in the porphyrin series. Reaction of 11b with 1,3-diformylindene gave a benzocarbasapphyrin in 38% yield, while a triformyl cyclopentadiene reacted with the tetrapyrrole to give a carbasapphyrin aldehyde in 7-12% yield. The free base carbasapphyrins were unstable but the monoprotonated hydrochloride salts could easily be isolated and characterized. Carbasapphyrins retain a strong diatropic ring current due to the presence of 22pi electron delocalization pathways. In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, C-protonated dications are generated. Condensation of 1,3-azulenedicarbaldehyde with 11b gave an azulisapphyrin dihydrochloride salt in 35% yield, and this also showed a strong diatropic ring current. Addition of base gave the unstable free base form, while pyrrolidine formed an unstable adduct that showed an intense Soret band at 480 nm. These results demonstrate that many of the themes observed for modified porphyrins and carbaporphyrins also apply to the sapphyrin series, although in some cases reduced stability hampers these investigations.

Tropiporphyrins, Cycloheptatrienyl Analogues of the Porphyrins: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Chemistry, and Structural Characterization of a Silver(III) Derivative

Tripyrranes were condensed with 1,3,5-cycloheptriene-1,6-dicarbaldehyde in TFA-CH(2)Cl(2) to give, following oxidation with 0.1% aqueous ferric chloride solutions, a series of tropiporphyrins 9. These cycloheptatrienyl analogues of the porphyrins show strong diatropic ring currents by proton NMR spectroscopy where the internal CH gives a resonance at -7.3 ppm, although the meso-protons are not shifted as far downfield as most aromatic porphyrinoid systems. These data indicate that the seven-membered ring distorts the porphyrinoid macrocycle and decreases the overall diatropicity in tropiporphyrins. Addition of trace amounts of TFA to solutions of 9 affords the corresponding aromatic monocations, and at higher acid concentrations a nonaromatic dication is generated. The dication has undergone C-protonation at one of the meso-bridges and has lost the plane of symmetry present in the parent system. This species shows significant downfield shifts to the cycloheptatrienyl protons, indicating that this unit has taken on tropylium character. Tropiporphyrin 9a underwent a Diels-Alder cycloaddition with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in refluxing xylenes to give modest yields of the related adduct. The Diels-Alder adduct 17 showed an increased diatropic ring current where the internal proton shifted beyond -9 ppm, and this indicates that the [18]annulene substructure has flattened out compared to 9a. Diimide reduction of 9a afforded a dihydrotropiporphyrin that also showed a stronger ring current. Tropiporphyrins 9 were also shown to react with silver(I) acetate in the presence of DBU in refluxing pyridine to give the corresponding silver(III) organometallic derivatives. The meso-protons for these metal complexes give proton NMR chemical shift values similar to those for the parent tropiporphyrins, indicating that the macrocycle is still distorted, but the external olefinic protons are shifted downfield compared to 9. A diphenyl-substituted silver(III) derivative 18b was further characterized by X-ray crystallography. This shows that the cycloheptatriene unit takes on a highly twisted geometry that distorts the overall conformation of the porphyrinoid macrocycle.

Oxybenziporphyrins, Oxypyriporphyrins, Benzocarbaporphyrins, and Their 23-Oxa and 23-Thia Analogues: Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, Metalation, and Structural Characterization of a Palladium(II) Organometallic Derivative

A series of nine porphyrin analogues have been synthesized using the "3 + 1" variant on the MacDonald condensation. Tripyrrane-type systems with a centrally unsubstituted pyrrole, furan, or thiophene ring were prepared using conventional methods, and these were condensed with indene-1,3-dicarbaldehyde, 5-formylsalicylaldehyde, or 3-hydroxy-2,6-pyridinedicarbaldehyde in the presence of TFA to generate benzocarba-, oxybenzi-, and oxypyriporphyrins, respectively. The furan-containing analogues proved to be highly basic and could only be isolated as the corresponding hydrochloride salts. All nine analogue systems showed porphyrin-like UV-vis spectra with one or two Soret absorptions near 400 nm and a series of weaker bands at longer wavelengths. These systems also showed large diatropic ring currents by proton NMR spectroscopy that were comparable to true porphyrins. In the presence of trace amounts of TFA, benzocarbaporphyrin 12 formed a monocation, and in 50% TFA a C-protonated dication was generated. The 23-oxacarbaporphyrin 14 gave a monocation in chloroform, although the free base was generated in 5% Et(3)N-chloroform. In 50% TFA-CHCl(3), 14 afforded a mixture of mono- and diprotonated species. Thiacarbaporphyrin 15 also formed a monocation in the presence of TFA, but C-protonation was relatively disfavored for this system. Nonetheless, in the presence of TFA-d, 12, 14, and 15 all showed rapid exchange of the internal NH and CH protons. Carbaporphyrin 12 also showed slow exchange at the meso-positions, but this process was not observed for its heteroanalogues 14 and 15. Protonation studies were also conducted for oxybenziporphyrins and oxypyriporphyrins 16-21. Oxacarbaporphyrin 14 was shown to be a superior organometallic ligand and afforded good yields of the related nickel(II) and palladium(II) derivatives under mild conditions. A low yield of the platinum(II) complex could also be isolated. All three complexes retained their aromatic character, although the Pd(II) derivative appeared to possess a slightly larger diatropic ring current. The palladium(II) complex 27 was further characterized by X-ray crystallography. The macrocyclic core was shown to be highly planar where the dihedral angles of the component pyrrole, furan and indene rings relative to the mean [18]annulene plane were all </=2.1 degrees.

Preparation of tripyrrane analogues from resorcinol and 2-methylresorcinol for applications in the synthesis of new benziporphyrin systems

Acid catalyzed condensation of resorcinol or 2-methylresorcinol with 2 equiv. of an acetoxymethylpyrrole gave bis(pyrrolylmethyl)benzene derivatives in moderate yields; these afforded a series of novel aromatic benziporphyrins using the MacDonald "3 + 1" methodology.

Tert-butyl-substituted tripyrranes: insights into the steric and conformational factors that influence porphyrinoid ring formation in the "3 + 1" methodology

The MacDonald "3 + 1" route for porphyrinoid synthesis involves the acid-catalyzed condensation of tripyrranes with monocyclic dialdehydes, followed by an oxidation step. In the present study, yields were found to be greatly diminished when tert-butyl substituents were introduced on to the tripyrrane unit. Analysis of the proton NMR spectra for the tripyrranes indicates that the preferred conformation in solution has been radically altered by the presence of these tert-butyl moieties. This appears to be the first time that the NMR properties of an intermediate in porphyrin or porphyrin analogue synthesis have been correlated to its effectiveness in macrocycle formation.

Conjugated macrocycles related to the porphyrins. 25. Proton NMR spectroscopic evidence for a preferred [18]annulene substructure in carbaporphyrins from the magnitude of selected 4J(H,H) CH=C-CH3 coupling constants

Two new benzocarbaporphyrins with four or five alkyl substituents have been synthesized by the "3 + 1" MacDonald methodology. At lower temperatures, the proton NMR spectrum of the asymmetrically substituted carbaporphyrin 8 gave two NH resonances, while carbaporphyrin 9, which retains a plane of symmetry, gave only one resonance of this kind. As no additional peaks were seen for the remaining protons, these data strongly support the proposal that a single tautomer predominates in solution where the two NH protons flank the interior CH. Carbaporphyrin 8, which has a CH=CMe unit on the pyrrolic ring opposite the indene moiety, gave a long-range coupling constant of 4J(Me,H) = 1.3-1.4 Hz. On the other hand, the CH=CMe units of 9, which correspond to the pyrrole rings on each side of the carbocyclic moiety, gave 4J(Me,H) = 0.9-1.0 Hz. These values are in accord with those expected if the exterior carbon-carbon bonds of the pyrrole units next to the indene ring are part of a fully delocalized 18pi electron system, while the C=C bond of the remaining pyrrole ring retains substantial olefinic character.

Porphyrins with exocyclic rings. 16. Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of fluoranthoporphyrins, a new class of highly conjugated porphyrin chromophores

Porphyrins with fused aromatic rings are under detailed investigation due to their unique spectroscopic properties. To gain more insights into the effects due to ring annealation on the porphyrin chromophore, a series of fluoranthoporphyrins have been synthesized. Reaction of 3-nitrofluoranthene with isocyanoacetate esters in the presence of a phosphazene base afforded good yields of the fluorantho[2,3-c]pyrrole esters 8. Cleavage of the ester moiety with KOH in ethylene glycol afforded the parent heterocycle 9, and this condensed with 2 equiv of acetoxymethylpyrroles 10 in refluxing acetic acid-2-propanol to afford tripyrranes 11. Following cleavage of the tert-butyl ester protective groups with TFA, "3 + 1" condensation with pyrrole dialdehyde 12 gave the fluoranthoporphyrins 13 in good overall yields. In addition, reaction of tripyrrane 11 with acenaphthopyrrole dialdehyde 16 gave the mixed acenaphthofluoranthoporphyrin 17 in excellent yields. A difluoranthoporphyrin 18 was also prepared via a "2 + 2" MacDonald condensation. Reaction of fluoranthopyrrole 8a with dimethoxymethane in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid gave the symmetrical dipyrrylmethane 19, and following ester saponification, this was condensed with a dipyrrylmethane dialdehyde to afford the adj-difluoranthoporphyrin 18. The UV--vis spectra for these fluoranthoporphyrins gave a series of three broadened absorptions in the Soret band region, although the Q-bands were little effected by ring fusion. The nickel(II), copper(II), and zinc chelates were more unusual, showing strong absorptions near 600 nm. Difluoranthoporphyrin 18 showed many of the same spectroscopic features, although the presence of two ring fusions gave rise to an increase in the spectroscopic shifts. The mixed system 17 gave spectra that showed larger red shifts due to the acenaphthylene unit combined with the features due to the fluoranthene rings. This work further demonstrates the utility of aromatic ring fusion in altering the properties of porphyrinoid systems.