A Flexible Porphyrin-Annulene Hybrid: A Nonporphyrin Conformation formeso-Tetraaryldivacataporphyrin

Heterobimetallic 21,23-dimetallaporphyrin: activation of metal-metal interactions within the porphyrinoid macrocycle

Two core-modified porphyrins containing metal atoms, namely platinum(II) or platinum(IV) and rhodium(III), in place of two NH units, have been obtained by a post-synthetic modification of the 21,23-ditelluraporphyrin. The products of the tellurium-to-metal exchange, 21-platina-23-rhodaporphyrins, incorporate rhodacyclopentadiene and platinacyclopentadiene units with the metal atoms facing each other. The two molecules exhibit different degrees of metal-metal interaction depending on the oxidation state of platinum, with the NBO bond order being 0.04 for platinum(IV) and 0.15 for platinum(II). Consistently, the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules analysis revealed the presence of the bond determinant, the bond critical point, in the platinum(II) species, in contrast to the platinum(IV) congener. The two porphyrinoids are interconvertible in redox reactions. They both exhibit fluxional behaviour in solution, studied by ¹H NMR, involving alteration in the metal ion coordination sphere accompanied by the macrocyclic skeleton conformation change.

Organometallic chemistry confined within a porphyrin-like framework

The world of modified porphyrins changed forever when an N-confused porphyrin (NCP), a porphyrin isomer, was first published in 1994. The replacement of one inner nitrogen with a carbon atom revolutionised the chemistry that one is able to perform within the coordination cavity. One could explore new pathways in the organometallic chemistry of porphyrins by forcing a carbon fragment from the ring or an inner substituent to sit close to an inserted metal ion. Since the NCP discovery, a series of modifications became available to tune the coordination properties of the cavity, introducing a fascinating realm of carbaporphyrins. The review surveys all possible carbatetraphyrins(1.1.1.1) and their spectacular coordination and organometallic chemistry.

Metalation of Tellurophene: Reactivity of 21,23-Ditelluraporphodimethene toward Palladium(II), Platinum(II), and Rhodium(I)

Ditelluraporphodimethene, a nonaromatic porphyrinoid containing two tellurophene rings, reacted with palladium(II), platinum(II), and rhodium(I) following two different paths. Palladium(II) formed bonds to two tellurium donors of the macrocycle, yielding a side-on coordination compound, with a square planar (Te₂Cl₂) metal ion environment. An alternative reaction path has been observed for ditelluraporphodimethene with platinum(II) or rhodium(I) in high boiling solvents. These conditions led to the profound transformation, that is, one tellurium atom to a metal atom exchange, resulting in the formation of organometallic species containing metallacyclopentadiene rings, that is, 21-platina-23-telluraporphodimethene and 21-rhoda-23-telluraporphodimethene. The substitution reaction proceeded selectively at the tellurophene ring within the conjugated part of the molecule, that is, the tellurophene ring bound to two sp² meso-carbon atoms. In the case of platinum, the exchange was accompanied by one meso-aryl ring fusion with the formed platinacyclopentadiene ring, and the platinum(II) macrocycle underwent reversible oxidation with chlorine. The products are stable and represent first nonaromatic examples of metalloporphyrinoids, with a metallacyclopentadiene ring incorporated into a porphodimethene skeleton.

Synthesis of Benzofuran-Embedded Selena- and Telluraporphyrins

The benzofuran-embedded selena- and telluraporphyrins are resulted by replacing the pyrrole ring that is across the selenophene/tellurophene ring in meso-tetraaryl 21-selenaporphyrin and 21-telluraporphyrin respectively by a benzofuran unit. Three examples of benzofuran-embedded selenaporphyrins and one example of benzofuran-embedded telluraporphyrin were synthesized by adopting a simple 3 + 2 synthetic protocol involving the condensation of benzofuran based tripyrrane with appropriate 2,5-bis(hydroxymethylaryl) selenophene/telluorophene to afford pure benzofuran-embedded selenaporphyrins and telluraporphyrin in 3-6% yields. The macrocycles were thoroughly characterized and studied by various spectroscopic and computational techniques. The spectral and computational studies certified their nonaromatic nature unlike aromatic meso-tetraaryl 21-selena/21-telluraporphyrins, which proves that replacement of pyrrole with a benzofuran ring results in complete alteration of electronic properties. The DFT studies revealed that the benzofuran moiety hinders π-electron delocalization in the macrocycle due to its inflexibility, and the macrocycles adopt highly deformed saddle-shaped structures. The absorption spectra of benzofuran-embedded selena- and telluraporphyrins showed one strong band at ∼350-380 nm and one broad band at ∼650-695 nm that extended up to ∼900 nm. However, the protonated derivatives of macrocycles absorb strongly in the NIR region with a band trailing up to 1200 nm. The electrochemical studies revealed that the macrocycles are electron deficient, and theoretical studies resembled the experimental observations.

Two Rhodium(III) Ions Confined in a [18]Porphyrin Frame: 5,10,15,20‐Tetraaryl‐21,23‐Dirhodaporphyrin

Tetraaryl‐21,23‐dirhodaporphyrin and a series of related monorhodaporphyrins have been obtained by tellurium‐to‐rhodium exchange in a reaction of tetraaryl‐21,23‐ditelluraporphyrin with [RhCl(CO)₂]₂. These organometallic metallaporphyrins contain rhodium(III) centers embedded in rhodacyclopentadiene rings, incorporated within the porphyrin frames. The skeletons of 21,23‐dirhodaporphyrin and 21‐rhoda‐23‐telluraporphyrin are strongly deformed in‐plane from the rectangular shape typical for porphyrins, due to rhodium(III) coordination preferences, the large size of the two core atoms, and the porphyrin skeleton constrains. These two metallaporphyrins exhibit fluxional behavior, as studied by ¹H NMR and DFT, involving the in‐plane motion and the switch of the rhodium center(s) between two nitrogen donors. A side product detected in the reaction mixture, 21‐oxa‐23‐rhodaporphyrin, results from tellurium‐to‐oxygen exchange, occurring in parallel to the tellurium‐to‐rhodium exchange. The reaction paths and mechanisms have been analyzed. The title 21,23‐dirhodaporphyrin contains a bridged bimetallic unit, Rh₂Cl₂, in the center of the macrocycle, with two rhodium(III) ions lying approximately in the plane of the porphyrinoid skeleton. The geometry of the implanted Rh₂Cl₂ unit is affected by macrocyclic constrains.

Vacatadithiasapphyrins: Synthesis, Structure, and Spectral and Redox Properties

Four examples of novel aromatic [22]vacatadithiasapphyrins were synthesized by refluxing appropriate [22]telluradithiasapphyrins in 1,2-dichlorobenzene in the presence of excess HCl followed by simple column chromatographic purification. The [22]vacatadithiasapphyrins can exist in three conformers "in", "out", and "zigzag" w.r.t the butadiene moiety, and under our experimental conditions, the "out" conformer was the major compound. The X-ray structure obtained for one of the "out" conformers of vacatadithiasapphyrins revealed that the macrocycle was planar similar to its parent telluradithiasapphyrin and showed effective π-delocalization over the entire macrocyclic core. NMR studies supported the formation of the "out" conformer and suggested that the vacatadithiasapphyrins were less aromatic than the parent telluradithiasapphyrins. Density functional theory, time-dependent DFT, and nuclear independent chemical shift studies indicated that the protonated form of vacatadithiasapphyrin was more aromatic than the parent protonated telluradithiasapphyrin. The absorption spectra of vacatadithiasapphyrins showed a typical strong Soret band at ∼488 nm and four relatively broad Q-bands in the region of 590-860 nm, and electrochemical studies suggest that vacatadithiasapphyrins were easier to oxidize and easier to reduce compared to the parent telluradithiasapphyrins.

Chemistry of tellurium containing macrocycles

The chemistry of Tellurium containing macrocycles has received great attraction and developed rapidly. Recently inorganic chemists are fascinated by ligands containing macrocycles having tellurium as soft donor and N and O as hard donor atoms. The tellurium atom is more electropositive than carbon due to its large size that resulted in polarisation of Te–C bond. So, tellurium containing macrocycles are explored due to their high reactivity and toxicity. Well-designed macrocycles containing different metals is an interesting field of chemistry as macrocycle with mixed donor atoms can bind two different metal atoms with different nature within the same cavity and thereby ion selectivity increases. Chemistry of macrocycles with tellurium as soft donor atoms also gives rise to very interesting coordination behaviour as addition of Tellurium in macrocycle adds an additional probe (125Te NMR help to monitor their structures in solutions). The chemistry of hard and soft donors in macrocyclic framework makes interesting coordination chemistry and need to be explore. The discussion includes different types of tellurium macrocycles and their chemistry.

Tellurophene-Containing Core-Modified Pentaphyrin(2.1.1.1.1)s

Various core-modified tellurophene-containing pentaphyrin(2.1.1.1.1)s were synthesized via (3 + 2) condensation of 16-telluratripyrrane with different heterodiols under mild acid catalyzed conditions in 5-12% yields. The formation of pentaphyrin (2.1.1.1.1) with a N₂O₂Te core was not successful due to its inherent instability. The new pentaphyrins were characterized and studied by HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, X-ray crystallography for one of the pentaphyrins, absorption and DFT/TD-DFT techniques. The NMR studies indicated their nonaromatic nature. The X-ray structure obtained for pentaphyrin(2.1.1.1.1) with N₄Te core revealed that the macrocycle exists in a highly distorted nonplanar structure. The DFT studies showed that the macrocycles are nonaromatic and exists in highly distorted nonplanar geometry. Furthermore, as the core heterocyclic groups at ethene moiety were changed from pyrrole to furan to thiophene to benzene, the macrocycles tended toward more planar structures. The absorption spectra of pentaphyrins showed one strong sharp band in the region of 450-540 nm along with a broad band in the region of 700-800 nm. The pentaphyrin(2.1.1.1.1) with N4Te core upon protonation showed distinct color change in solution and large bathochromic shifts in absorption bands with an absorption in the NIR region.

Telluracarbaporphyrins and a Related Palladium(II) Complex: Evidence for Hypervalent Interactions

The reaction of a carbatripyrrin with a tellurophene dicarbinol in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O, followed by oxidation with DDQ, afforded the first example of a telluracarbaporphyrin. Although this system exhibits strongly aromatic characteristics, it is prone to air oxidation, giving rise to a hydroxy derivative that was characterized by X-ray crystallography. The initial telluracarbaporphyrin reacted with palladium(II) acetate to give a stable organometallic complex, and X-ray crystallography showed that the palladium cation was coordinated to all four atoms in the CNTeN core. An oxacarbatripyrrin was also reacted with a tellurophene dialcohol to give an air-stable porphyrin analogue with a CNTeO core. Nonmetalated telluracarbaporphyrins showed relatively short Te-N separations that strongly implied the involvement of hypervalent tellurium interactions. Furthermore, despite the presence of a very large tellurium atom, the tellurophene subunit is not strongly pivoted away from the mean macrocyclic plane as would be expected in the absence of these interactions. The aromatic properties of heterocarbaporphyrins were assessed by proton NMR spectroscopy, NICS calculations, and AICD plots. In addition, the relative stability of hydroxytelluraporphyrins in comparison to their tellurophene oxide tautomers was investigated and the aromatic characteristics of these oxidized structures were evaluated.

Theoretical kinetics and thermodynamics study: Peripheral substituent effects on the hydrolysis of verdoheme

The heme oxygenase (HO) enzyme is a free heme protein that binds to heme in the body. Heme acts as both a cofactor and a substrate in this enzyme. The catabolism of heme into biliverdin, monoxide carbon, and free-iron, catalyzed by heme oxygenase via three consecutive oxygenation steps, in which the heme group functions as the prosthetic group as well as the substrate. Investigations of the reactions of the peripheral substituent on the heme ring with 5-oxaporphyrin iron complexes (verdohemes) have been assumed to provide models and largely unknown for the primary step in the hydrolysis of verdohemes. In this work, a theoretical kinetics and thermodynamics study of the degradation reactions of verdohemes was performed, and calculations show that the [Formula: see text] in the hydrolysis of verdohemes with non-peripheral substituents is more negative than hydrolysis of verdohemes with peripheral substituents. In other words, the hydrolysis of verdohemes with non-peripheral substituents is more energy-efficient than verdohemes with a peripheral substituents. Equilibrium constant calculations show that hydrolysis of verdohemes with non-peripheral substituents is much faster than that of verdohemes with peripheral substituents, which is due to a more convenient nucleophilic attack on the cationic ring than the anionic ring. To acquire a good molecular understanding, peripheral substituent effects on the hydrolysis of verdoheme’s inhibitory role was studied using the DFT method.

A flexible expanded heterocorrole: Tellura[22]porphyrin(6.1.1.0)

An expanded heterocorrole, meso-tetraaryl-tellura[22]porphyrin(6.1.1.0), containing a bipyrrole moiety and a six-carbon long link, has been synthesized. The reaction path proceeds through a controlled acid-promoted extrusion of one tellurium atom from meso-aryl-26,28-ditellurasapphyrin, leading to a structure where one tellurophene ring of the substrate is replaced by a bridging acyclic four-carbon unit. This aromatic porphyrin-annulene hybrid is conformationally flexible in solution, on account of the C4 unit adopting two different configurations: trans–cis–trans or all-trans. Studies of the dynamic behavior of tellura[22]porphyrin(6.1.1.0) in solution were performed by means of 1H and 125Te NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray structure of the all-trans form with trapezoid macrocyclic skeleton is also presented.

Biliazine: a ring open phthalocyanine analog with amesohydrogen bond

The hemiporphyrazine type chelate and phthalocyaninine analog biliazine (H₂BlzH) and its metal complexes can be synthesized in one-step from a monosubstituted diiminisoindoline (DII).

Expanded Porphyrin Contraction: From [22]Triphyrin(6.6.0) to [22]Triphyrin(6.5.0)

An expanded triphyrin containing a bipyrrole moiety and annulene links, namely tetraphenyl-[22]triphyrin(6.5.0), 2, has been synthesized. The synthesis proceeded by a postsynthetic transformation of tetraphenyl-[22]triphyrin(6.6.0), 1, in a metal-free unexpected and unprecedented ring contraction during column chromatography on alumina. The observed transformation, located at the hydrocarbon chain linking the pyrrole units, formally corresponds to a subtraction of one carbon atom from an annulene circuit. In contrast to the flexible substrate 1, the product 2 is conformationally rigid, and capable of chloride anion binding in its protonated form.

Telluraporphyrinoids: an interesting class of core-modified porphyrinoids

Core-modified porphyrinoids or heteroporphyrinoids are a class of porphyrinoids in which one or more core pyrrole nitrogen atom(s) of the macrocycles are replaced predominantly by group-16 atoms such as O, S, Se, and Te. Telluraporphyrinoids are distinct and interesting from the rest of the chalcogenide atom(s) containing porphyrinoids owing to the larger size of Te and the consequent properties arising from it. The telluraporphyrinoid chemistry is only sporadically investigated and the developments are rather slow compared to the other lighter group-16 atom containing porphyrinoids. This perspective presents a concise overview of the developments that have taken place in the field of telluraporphyrinoid chemistry since its inception and includes various aspects such as the synthesis, structure, reactivity, and properties of tellurium-containing porphyrins and other related porphyrinoids such as vacataporphyrins, carbaporphyrins, calixphyrins, and expanded porphyrins.

Structural diversity of the complexes of monovalent metal d10 ions with macrocyclic aggregates of iso-tellurazole N-oxides

Iso-tellurazole N-oxides yield a remarkable variety of structures with coinage-metal monocations.

Bond Rotation in an Aromatic Carbaporphyrin: Allyliporphyrin

Allyliporphyrin is a carbaporphyrin that has replaced one pyrrole with an allyl group. Dynamic behavior (bond rotation) was observed by variable temperature ¹ H NMR and 2D-NOESY NMR spectroscopy and theoretically examined by DFT calculations. These studies revealed that well-defined bond rotation was first observed in the limited space of the carbaporphyrin from 2 through cis-2 and the calculated rotational barrier was low enough, with the relative energy level of cis-2 only 0.65 kcal mol^-1 higher than 2. The synthesized allyliporphyrin (2) is a strongly aromatic macrocycle as indicated by the chemical shifts of its inner NH and CH signals. However, its palladium complex displayed reduced aromaticity due to the tilted thiophene of Pd-2.

Expanded, Contracted, and Isomeric Porphyrins: Theoretical Aspects

The use of cyclic polyene perimeter-model approaches, such as Gouterman's four-orbital model and Michl's perimeter model, to analyze trends in the electronic structures and optical properties of expanded, contracted, and isomeric porphyrins is described with an emphasis on the use of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy to validate the results of TD-DFT calculations. Trends in the electronic structures and optical properties of isomeric porphyrins are examined by comparing the properties of porphycenes, corrphycenes, hemiporphycenes, isoporphycenes, N-confused and neoconfused porphyrins, and norroles, whereas those of ring-contracted porphyrins are examined by comparing the properties of subporphyrins, triphyrins, and vacataporphyrins. The ring-expanded compounds that are examined include cyclo[n]pyrroles, [22]pentaphyrins(1.1.1.1.1), sapphyrins, smaragdyrins, isosmaragdyrins, orangarins, ozaphyrins, [26]hexaphyrins(1.1.1.1.1.1), rubyrins, rosarins, amethyrins, isoamethyrins, bronzaphyrins, and doubly N-confused hexaphyrins.

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.

Core chemistry and skeletal rearrangements of porphyrinoids and metalloporphyrinoids

Porphyrin core alteration allows for the exploration of porphyrin-like or porphyrin-unlike coordination chemistry and provides an insight into reactions inside particularly shaped macrocyclic architecture including metal-mediated structural transformations.

Vacata- and divacataporphyrin: new photosensitizers for application in photodynamic therapy-an in vitro study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The photodynamic therapy is a well-known method of treatment of both malignant tumors and non-tumor lesions in human patients. In the present study, we aimed at evaluating the in vitro efficacy of the new photosensitizing agents, vacataporphyrin (VP), and divacataporphyrin (DVP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effectiveness of VP and DVP was compared to well-known photosensitizers, that is, hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) and chlorin e6 (Ce6) in identical in vitro conditions. The experiment was performed on a well-established breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 and compared to HCV 29T11-2-D1 cell line. Cells were incubated in standard conditions and they were exposed to different concentrations of VP, DVP, HPD, and Ce6, that is, 180, 90, 45, 22.5, and 10 µg/ml. After incubation with photosensitizers, the cells were washed, medium was exchanged and the cells were subjected to irradiation at the proper wavelengths, light intensity (100 mW/sq cm), and total light doses 4.5 and 9 J/sq cm.

RESULTS

Our results showed that the VP and DVP are potent photosensitizers and the photocytotoxic effect after the incubation with DVP was much better than that of VP. The cytotoxic effects of VP and DVP were less intensive than these of HPD and Ce6. VP and DVP also accumulated well in the tumor cells. Our results also indicated that the VP and DVP effectiveness on MCF-7 cells was photosensitizer dose and light dose dependent.

CONCLUSION

The overall properties revealed by both new porphyrins and particularly a possibility for excitation at a higher wavelength and thus a deeper tissue penetration, make them promising candidates for further in vivo experiments.

Origin of aromatic character in porphyrinoid systems

The aromatic nature of porphyrins is commonly attributed to the presence of an [18]annulene substructure. However, this viewpoint has been disputed. Drawing on a range of examples of carbaporphyrinoid systems from the author's own studies, the [18]annulene model is shown to be a self-consistent and insightful approach for considering the aromatic properties of these porphyrin analogs. Benziporphyrins provide a continuum of porphyrinoid structures that range from nonaromatic to highly aromatic species and the presence of 18π electron delocalization pathways provides an excellent explanation for the variations in their properties. The same type of analysis is applied to carbaporphyrins, tropiporphyrins, azuliporphyrins, N-confused porphyrins, pyrazoloporphyrins and dicarbaporphyrins. Nevertheless, these properties might also be explained by a 22π electron delocalization model proposed by Schleyer. The [18]annulene model gains further support from the properties of dideazaporphyrins which cannot take part in this type of 22π electron delocalization but nevertheless retain porphyrin-like aromatic properties. These results support the concept that porphyrins are bridged [18]annulenes.