A doubly N-fused benzohexaphyrin and its rearrangement to a fluorescent macrocycle upon DDQ oxidation

A Comprehensive Study on Tetraaryltetrabenzoporphyrins

Tetraaryltetrabenzoporphyrins (TATBPs) show, due to their optoelectronic properties, rising potential as dyes in various fields of physical and biomedical sciences. However, unlike in the case of porphyrins, the potential structural diversity of TATBPs has been explored only to little extent, owed mainly to synthetic hurdles. Herein, we prepared a comprehensive library of 30 TATBPs and investigated their fundamental properties. We elucidated structural properties by X-ray crystallography and found explanations for physical properties such as solubility. Fundamental electronic aspects were studied by optical spectroscopy as well as by electrochemistry and brought in context to the stability of the molecules. Finally, we were able to develop a universal synthetic protocol, utilizing a readily established isoindole synthon, which gives TATBPs in high yields, regardless of the nature of the used arylaldehyde and without meticulous chromatographic purifications steps. This work serves as point of orientation for scientists, that aim to utilize these molecules in materials, nanotechnological, and biomedical applications.

Magnetic Circular Dichroism of Transition-Metal Complexes of Perfluorophenyl-N-Confused Porphyrins: Inverting Electronic Structure through a Proton

Neutral and deprotonated anionic Ni(II), Pd(II), Cu(II), and Cu(III) complexes of tetrakis(perfluorophenyl)-N-confused porphyrin (PF-NCP) were prepared and investigated by UV-visible and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies. As in the previously reported Ni(II) adduct of tetraphenyl N-confused porphyrin, we observe sign reverse (positive to negative intensities with increasing energy) features in the MCD spectra of the neutral Ni(II), Pd(II), and Cu(II) complexes of PF-NCP, which is indicative of rare ΔHOMO < ΔLUMO relationships. Upon deprotonation of Ni(II), Pd(II), and Cu(II) complexes, these features revert to those of more typical porphyrin MCD spectra consistent with a ΔHOMO > ΔLUMO condition. The Cu(III) PF-NCP complex shows features similar to those of the deprotonated divalent metal systems. Spectroscopic features in all target complexes as well as previously published metal-free and Ni(II) NCP systems were correlated with the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations. Calculation data are consistent with the tautomeric rearrangement of the electronic structures of NCP cores playing dominant roles, with smaller contribution from the central metal ions in the observed optical and magneto-optical properties. This is true for all described NCP systems to date, as they affect the stabilization/destabilization of the N-confused porphyrin-centered Gouterman orbitals.

Synthesis of macrocyclic receptors with intrinsic fluorescence featuring quinizarin moieties

An unprecedented class of macrocycles with intrinsic fluorescence consisting of phenolic trimers and quinizarin is developed. Though they are lacking strong hydrogen bonds as observed in calixarenes, the two examples introduced here each adopt a vase-like conformation with all four aromatic units pointing in one direction (syn orientation). This "cone" conformation has been confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, molecular modeling, and X-ray crystallography. The laminar, electron-rich fluorophore as part of the macrocycle allows additional contacts to enclosed guest molecules.

Synthesis and properties of dimeric porphyrin based on the hydroxyphenylporphyrin scaffold

A porphyrin dimer was prepared by coupling H2MHTPP and 1,4-dichloro-2,5-dinitrobenzene in a one-step synthesis. Its structure was established by a MALDI-TOF mass spectrum and its electrochemical and photochemical properties were investigated. Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) revealed that the porphyrin dimer is a p-type semiconductor.

Density functional theory and atoms-in-molecule study on the role of two-electron stabilizing interactions in retro Diels–Alder reaction of cycloadducts derived from substituted cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone

A systematic investigation on the cycloreversion reaction of the cycloadduct formed between substituted cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone (1-19) is reported at the B3LYP/6-311+G**//B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. The computed activation barrier exhibits a fairly high sensitivity to the nature of substituents at the C7-position. Gibbs free energy of activation for 1 and 19 are found to be 20.3 and 30.1 kcal mol(-1), respectively, compared to 7, which is estimated to be 24.7 kcal mol(-1). Quantitative analysis of the electronic effects operating in both the cycloadduct as well as the corresponding transition state for the retro Diels-Alder (rDA) reaction performed using the natural bond orbital (NBO) and atoms in molecule (AIM) methods have identified important two-electron stabilizing interactions. Among four major delocalizations, sigma(C7-X) to sigma*(C1-C5) [and to sigma*(C2-C6)] is identified as the key contributing factor responsible for ground state C1-C5 bond elongation, which in turn is found to be crucial in promoting the rDA reaction. A good correlation between the population of antibonding orbital [sigma*(C1-C5)] of the ground state cycloadduct and Gibbs free energy of activation is observed. The importance of factors that modulate ground state structural features in controlling the energetics of rDA reaction is described.

Enlarged π-electronic network of a meso-meso, β-β, β-β triply linked dibenzoporphyrin dimer that exhibits a large two-photon absorption cross section

Enlargement of the pi-electronic network of meso-meso, beta-beta, beta-beta triply linked diporphyrin has been exploited by preparing a corresponding dibenzo-fused porphyrin dimer that exhibits a perturbed absorption spectrum and a large two-photon absorption cross section.