Bipyricorrole: A Corrole Homologue with a Monoanionic Core as a Fluorescence ZnII Sensor

One Carbon Ring Expansion of Bipyrrole to Bipyridine Enables Access to a π-Extended, Non-innocent, Corrole-like Ligand

A π-extended, diaza-triphenylene embedded, mono-anionic corrole analogue and its Ni^II complex were synthesized from a diaza-triphenylene precursor, which was obtained from a double one-carbon insertion into a naphthobipyrrole diester. Following conversion to the corresponding activated diol and acid-catalyzed condensation with pyrrole, subsequent reaction with pentafluorobenzaldehyde afforded mono-anionic, π-extended bipyricorrole-like macrocycle. Attempted Ni^II insertion with Ni(OAc)₂  ⋅ 4H₂ O resulted an ESR active, Ni^II bipyricorrole radical complex, which was converted to a stable cationic Ni^II complex upon treatment with [(Et₃ O)⁺ (SbCl₆ )^- ]. Both complexes were characterized by ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR, UV/Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Ni^II bipyricorrole radical complex is converted to a cationic Ni^II complex by single-electron reduction using cobaltocene. Both the cationic Ni^II complex and the radical Ni^II complex exhibited ligand-centered redox behavior, whereas the Ni^II remains in the +2 oxidation state.

Synthesis of Pyridine Containing Crowned Fused Expanded Porphyrins

New examples of nonaromatic fused expanded porphyrins containing both pyridine and crown ether moiety as a part of macrocyclic framework were synthesized by condensing pyridine based pentapyrrane with polyether based diol in CH 2 Cl 2 in the presence of one equivalent of BF 3 ·OEt 2 under inert conditions followed by oxidation with DDQ in open air. The condensation was expected to form pyridine containing crowned expanded porphyrins but resulted in the formation of fused crowned expanded porphyrins due to intramolecular fusion of two pyrrole "N"s with two adjacent inverted thiophene "C"s as revealed by X-ray crystallography obtained for one of the macrocycle. The HRMS and NMR study supported the formation of fused crowned pyridine containing expanded porphyrins, and the macrocycles showed simple well-resolved NMR spectra where all resonances were identified easily by 2D NMR spectroscopy. The macrocycles exhibited typical nonaromatic absorption features and showed one broad band with peak maxima at 535 nm and one or two shoulder bands in the higher energy region. The protonation studies resulted in clear colour change from purple to blue and absorption bands experienced bathochromic shifts with a broad band at 662 nm which was extended up to 800 nm. The electrochemical studies revealed that the macrocycles were easier to oxidize but difficult to reduce. DFT studies indicated that the macrocycle attains a very puckered and distorted 'U' shaped structure owing to the flexibility of the crown ether chain and TD-DFT studies corroborated experimental results. The preliminary studies indicated that the macrocycles could be used as colorimetric optical sensor for detection of Cu 2+ ion.

Synthesis and Structural Properties of NIR-Absorbing Pyridine-Containing Heptaphyrins

Four examples of stable nonaromatic pyridine containing heteroheptaphyrins (pyrithiaheptaphyrins) 2-5 were synthesized in 8-13% yields by [5+2] condensation of newly synthesized pyridine-based pentapyrrane 8 and bithiophene diol 9 a-d. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of macrocycle 2 proved that the macrocycle assumes a highly planar structure with two inverted thiophene rings. The heteroheptaphyrins 2-5 are asymmetric and showed a greater number of resonances in ¹ H NMR spectra compared to our previously reported symmetric heterohexaphyrin (pyrithiahexaphyrin) 1 c. Most of the macrocyclic core protons in pyrithiahepaphyrins 2-5 experienced upfield/downfield shifts compared to pyrithiahexaphyrin 1 c indicating the alteration of π-conjugation in the macrocycles. The absorption bands were significantly red-shifted and located in the NIR region in macrocycles 2-5 compared to 1 c supporting the increase of π-delocalization. The theoretical studies support the experimental findings and NICS(0) value supports the non-aromaticity of the macrocycles.

Ligand Non-innocence and Single Molecular Spintronic Properties of AgII Dibenzocorrole Radical on Ag(111)

A facile method for the quantitative preparation of silver dibenzo-fused corrole Ag-1 is described. In contrast to the saddle conformation resolved by single-crystal X-ray analysis for Ag-1, it adopts an unprecedented domed geometry, with up and down orientations, when adsorbed on an Ag(111) surface. Sharp Kondo resonances near Fermi level, both at the corrole ligand and the silver center were observed by cryogenic STM, with relatively high Kondo temperature (172 K), providing evidence for a non-innocent Ag^II -corrole^.2- species. Further investigation validates that benzene ring fusion and molecule-substrate interactions play pivotal roles in enhancing Ag(4d(x² -y² ))-corrole (π) orbital interactions, thereby stabilizing the open-shell singlet Ag^II -corrole^.2- on Ag(111) surface. Moreover, this strategy used for constructing metal-free benzene-ring fused corrole ligand gives rise to inspiration of designing novel metal-corrole compound for multichannel molecular spintronics devices.

Inversion Triggered by Protonation-A Rubyrin with Embedded α,β'-Pyridine Moieties

Incorporation of α,β'-pyridine into a [26]hexaphyrin(1.1.0.1.1.0) frame resulted in formation of 29,33-diaza-A,D-di-p-benzi[26]hexaphyrin (A,D-di-p-pyrirubyrin), which acquires a strictly planar conformation with two nitrogen pyridine atoms directed to the center of the macrocyclic core. The mode of α,β'-pyridine incorporation results in efficient 26-electron π-conjugation, as shown by the clear spectroscopic and structural aromatic features. The formation of the trication and tetracation through protonation is accompanied by a conformational flip of one or two pyridinium moieties to result in N-confused or doubly N-confused conformers of the original macrocyclic frame.