Stable Antiaromatic [24]Hexaphyrin(1.1.0.0.1.0) and Its Metal Complexes

5,10,23-Trimesityl-substituted [24]hexaphyrin(1.1.0.0.1.0) was synthesized as a stable antiaromatic molecule by base-catalyzed twofold SNAr reaction and was reduced to the corresponding [26]hexaphyrin, which was an unstable aromatic molecule because it easily oxidized to the [24]hexaphyrin. The [24]hexaphyrin served as a ligand to give the bis-PdII complex and tris-RhI complex with unique structures. The former complex has two square-planar-coordinated PdII ions bridged by an acetate anion and shows a strong paratropic ring current, while the latter complex has three RhI ions coordinated with two pyrrolic nitrogen atoms and two carbonyl groups, but one carbonyl group is shared with two RhI ions in a unique manner.

Self-assembling figure-of-eight and pseudoplectoneme aromatic oligoamide ribbons

Two oligoamide macrocycles composed of eight and twelve 7-amino-8-fluoro-2-quinolinecarboxylic acid monomers were synthesised despite the propensity of their acyclic precursors to fold and self-assemble into double helices. Macrocyclisations were made possible through the transient use of helicity disruptors. The resulting macrocyclic ribbons were found to adopt figure-of-eight and pseudoplectoneme shapes that maintain an ability to self-assemble.

Synthesis of Imidazole-Based [30]Heptaphyrin and Stable Figure-Eight [60]Tetradecaphyrins via [5 + 2] Condensations in One Pot

Derived from a Pd-catalyzed oxidative C-H/C-H coupling reaction, two giant imidazole-based [60]tetradecaphyrins adopting stable figure-eight geometry together with one [30]heptaphyrin are obtained by [5 + 2] MacDonald condensations in one pot. The directional imidazole is believed to play a vital role for the diverse cyclization and conformation stabilization.

Figure-eight Octaphyrin Bis-Ge(IV) Complexes: Synthesis, Structures, Aromaticity, and Chiroptical Properties

Highly twisted structures of expanded porphyrin provide a prominent basis to unravel the relationship between aromaticity and chirality. Here we report the synthesis of bis-Ge(IV) complexes of [38]octaphyrin that display rigid figure-eight structures. Two bis-Ge(IV) [38]octaphyrin isomers with respect to the stereochemistry of the axial hydroxy groups on the germanium ions were obtained and found to be aromatic. Upon oxidation with MnO₂ , these [38]octaphyrin complexes were converted to a single syn-type isomer of [36]octaphyrin with retained figure-eight conformation. The enantiomers have been successfully separated by HPLC equipped with a chiral stationary phase. While aromatic [38]octaphyrin Ge(IV) complexes showed quite large molar circular dichroism of up to Δϵ=1500 M^-1 cm^-1 with a dissymmetry factor g_abs of 0.035, weakly antiaromatic [36]octaphyrin Ge(IV) complexes underscored moderate values; Δϵ=540 M^-1 cm^-1 with g_abs of 0.023. Thus, the figure-eight octaphyrin scaffold has been proved to be an attractive platform for novel chiroptical materials with tunable aromaticity.

Core-modified 48π and 42π decaphyrins: syntheses, properties and structures

Protonation triggered transition of a 48π nonaromatic decaphyrin to a 48π Hückel antiaromatic decaphyrin is reported: the flexibility of the macrocycle due to the presence of twelve meso carbon bridges facilitates such a transition through conformational change.

Functionalized 2,2'-Bipyrroles: Building Blocks for Pyrrolic Macrocycles

Functionalized N-unsubstituted 2,2'-bipyrroles are basic building blocks for the preparation of pyrrolic macrocycles and natural products, such as prodigiosines. The aim of this review is to provide a description of the most important methodologies used to prepare 2,2'-bipyrroles and their central role as building blocks for the synthesis of porphyrinoids and property-defining structural elements therein.

Selective synthesis of 5-aryl-10-(nitromethyl) substituted 15-azatripyrrane, 15-oxatripyrrane and 15-thiatripyrrane: access to nitromethyl functionalized A3B-porphyrins

A chemical strategy toward the selective synthesis of unsymmetrical tripyrranes was developed for the building of meso-aryl and -nitromethyl substituted A₃B porphyrins.

Ligand size dependence of U–N and U–O bond character in a series of uranyl hexaphyrin complexes: quantum chemical simulation and density based analysis

A quantum chemical and density based analysis of bonding in uranyl hexaphyrin complexes, looking for trends in stability and covalency.

Enhancing the low-energy absorption band and charge mobility of antiaromatic NiII norcorroles by their substituent effects

Dissymmetrical substitution of norcorrole enables the preparation of various norcorrole derivatives as air- and moisture-stable species.

Flexible Porphyrinoids

This review underscores the conformational flexibility of porphyrinoids, a unique class of functional molecules, starting from the smallest triphyrins(1.1.1) via [18]porphyrins(1.1.1.1) and concluding with a variety of expanded porphyrinoids and heteroporphyrinoids, including the enormous [96]tetracosaphyrin(1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0). The specific flexibility of porphyrinoids has been documented as instrumental in the designing or redesigning of macrocyclic frames, particularly in the search for adjustable platforms for coordination or organometallic chemistry, anion binding, or mechanistic switches in molecular devices. A structural prearrangement to coordinate one or more metal ions has been outlined. The coverage of the topic focuses on representative examples of geometry or conformational rearrangements for each selected class of the numerous porphyrinoids accordingly categorized by the number of built-in carbo- or heterocycles.

2,2'-Bipyrrole-Based Porphyrinoids

A large number of porphyrinoids containing 2,2'-bipyrrole subunits have appeared since they were originally found as a component of sapphyrin and corrole, and it was found that the bipyrrole subunit endowed macrocycles with specific geometric features and electronic properties. Synthetic methods for bipyrrole-containing precursors for porphyrinoid are summarized in this review; these include coupling reactions of pyrrole rings, pyrrole ring-forming reactions leading directly to bipyrrole units, and synthetic reactions for oligopyrrolic compounds. Some hybrid oligopyrroles having nonpyrrole (hetero)aromatic ring(s) are also included. This review also describes porphyrinoids composed of bipyrrole subunits. Interesting electronic properties derived from strong cyclo-π-conjugation are highlighted in the bipyrrole-based porphyrinoids with or without meso-like carbons. Anion-binding chemistry is one of the main topics for bipyrrole-based macrocycles with less efficient or deficient cyclo-π-conjugation, such as those linked with electronically localized aromatic ring(s), with sp³ carbon(s), and with amido or imine connection(s). The principal concern in this review is porphyrinoids of relatively large ring size, composed of more than five units of pyrroles and (hetero)aromatic substitutes in total, and so bipyrrole-based porphyrinoids up to five pyrrolic units, such as corroles, porphycenes, sapphyrins, and smaragdyrin, will not be covered here except for some special cases.

Chemo- and Regioselective Reduction of 5,15-Diazaporphyrins Providing Antiaromatic Azaporphyrinoids

Reagent-controlled chemo- and regioselective reduction of 5,15-diazaporphyrins has been developed. The selective reduction of carbon-carbon double bonds of diazaporphyrins provides 18 π aromatic isobacteriochlorin-type products, whereas the reduction of carbon-nitrogen double bonds leads to selective formation of 20 π N,N'-dihydrodiazaporphyrins in excellent yields. The distinct antiaromatic character of N,N'-dihydrodiazaporphyrins has been revealed. The free-base N,N'-dihydrodiazaporphyrin exhibits slower inner NH tautomerism than that in the corresponding 18 π porphyrins.

Rational syntheses of helical π-conjugated oligopyrrins with a bipyrrole linkage: geometry control of bis-copper(ii) coordination

Rational syntheses of long-chain helical π-conjugated oligopyrrins and their bis-copper complexes afford systematically modulated optical and magnetic properties.

NiII tetrahydronorcorroles: antiaromatic porphyrinoids with saturated pyrrole units

While hydrogenated porphyrins are abundant in natural and synthetic compounds, antiaromatic hydrogenated porphyrinoids have not been synthesized to date. Here, we report bacteriochlorin-like Ni^II tetrahydronorcorrole complexes as the first examples of antiaromatic porphyrinoids that contain saturated pyrrole units.

Gram-scale synthesis of nickel(II) norcorrole: the smallest antiaromatic porphyrinoid

Small is beautiful: A ring-contracted sister of porphyrin, norcorrole, has been synthesized efficiently as a stable molecule by a nickel-templated strategy. The norcorrole complex is stable but exhibits a distinct antiaromatic character according to the Hückel rule. Oxidation of the norcorrole complex provides an aromatic oxacorrole complex.

Helical lanthanide(III) complexes with chiral nonaaza macrocycle

The chiral nonaazamacrocyclic amine L, which is a reduction product of the 3 + 3 Schiff base macrocycle, wraps around the lanthanide(III) ions to form enantiopure helical complexes. These Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Er(III), Yb(III) and Lu(III) complexes have been isolated in enantiopure form and have been characterized by spectroscopic methods. X-ray crystal structures of the Ln(III) complexes with L show that the thermodynamic product of the complexation of the RRRRRR-isomer of the macrocycle is the (M)-helical complex in the case of Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III) and Eu(III). In contrast, the (P)-helical complex is the thermodynamic product in the case of Yb(III) and Lu(III). The NMR and CD spectra show that the (M)-helicity for the kinetic complexation product of the RRRRRR-isomer of the macrocycle is preferred for all investigated lanthanide(III) ions, while the preferred helicity of the thermodynamic product is (M) for the early lanthanide(III) ions and (P) for the late lanthanide(III) ions. In the case of the late lanthanide(III) ions, a slow inversion of helicity between the kinetic (M)-helical product and the thermodynamic (P)-helical product is observed in solution. For Er(III), Yb(III) and Lu(III) both forms have been isolated in pure form and characterized by NMR and CD. The analysis of 2D NMR spectra of the Lu(III) complex reveals the NOE correlations that prove that the helical structure is retained in solution. The NMR spectra also reveal large isotopic effect on the 1H NMR shifts of paramagnetic Ln(III) complexes, related to NH/ND exchange. Photophysical measurements show that L(RRRRRR) appears to favor an efficient 3pipi*-to-Ln energy transfer process taking place for Eu(III) and Tb(III), but these Eu(III)- and Tb(III)-containing complexes with L(RRRRRR) lead to small luminescent quantum yields due to an incomplete intersystem crossing (isc) transfer, a weak efficiency of the luminescence sensitization by the ligand, and/or efficient nonradiative deactivation processes. Circularly polarized luminescence on the MeOH solutions of Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes confirms the presence of stable chiral emitting species and the observation of almost perfect mirror-image CPL spectra for these compounds with both enantiomeric forms of L.