Insights into the Tautomerism inmeso-Substituted Corroles: A Variable-Temperature1H,13C,15N, and19F NMR Spectroscopy Study

The Excited-State N-H Tautomerization Rate in Free-Base Corroles

Corrole is a tetrapyrrolic dye with a structure that resembles porphyrin, apart from a single missing carbon. The absence of this carbon results in the re-arrangement of the double bonds within the macrocycle, and the presence of three pyrrolic protons in the central cavity in its free-base form. These protons lead to the existence of two distinct tautomeric structures that exist in a dynamic equilibrium. Although the ground-state energies of the tautomers are similar, the excited states show a significant difference in energy which unbalances the equilibrium between the tautomers and results in rapid excited-state tautomerization, favouring one tautomeric species over the other. Although the excited-state tautomerization process has been known for a long time, very few studies have been performed on it, leaving many key aspects of the process poorly understood. Herein we show how ultrafast photoluminescence can be used to experimentally determine the rates of excited-state tautomerization and activation energies of three free-base corrole derivatives thus allowing us to completely describe the excited-state dynamics of the unusual excited state of free-base corrole and opening the door to the development of new materials that can exploit its unique characteristics.

Development of Peripheral Functionalization Chemistry of meso-Free Corroles

In contrast to the extensive development of meso functionalization of porphyrins, that of corroles has been only rarely explored until the development of practical synthetic methods of meso -free corroles in 2015. Ready availability of meso -free corroles opened up meso -functionalization chemistry of corroles, giving rise to successful synthesis of various meso-substituted corroles such as meso -halogen, meso -nitro, meso -amino, meso -oxo, and meso iminocorroles as well as meso-meso linked corrole dimers and corrole tapes. In some cases, 2NH corroles existed as stable or transient radical species. The impacts of meso -functionalization on the structures, electronic properties, optical characteristics, and aromaticity are highlighted in this Minireview.

Synthesis of 8,12-Dibromocorrole and Its Transformation to Antiaromatic 8,10-Fused Iminoisocorrole with a Polarized Resonance Contribution

8,12-Dibromo-5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)corrole and its Ag(III) complex were prepared via intramolecular oxidative coupling of a 8,12-dibromobilane precursor. The Ag(III) complex was allowed for further transformation via Suzuki coupling reaction. Thus, 2-aminophenyl group was coupled at one of the β-positions, and subsequent demetalation followed by oxidation with MnO₂ afforded 8,10-fused iminoisocorrole in good yields. The iminoisocorrole exhibited weak antiaromaticity due to the C(+)-N(-) polarized resonance contribution as evidenced by ¹ H NMR spectrum, UV/vis absorption spectra, cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical calculations.

How does tautomerization affect the excited-state dynamics of an amino acid-derivatized corrole?

In the first two decades of the XXI century, corroles have emerged as an important class of porphyrinoids for photonics and biomedical photonics. In comparison with porphyrins, corroles have lower molecular symmetry and higher electron density, which leads to uniquely complementary properties. In macrocycles of free-base corroles, for example, three protons are distributed among four pyrrole nitrogens. It results in distinct tautomers that have different thermodynamic energies. Herein, we focus on the excited-state dynamics of a corrole modified with L-phenylalanine. The tautomerization in the singlet-excited state occurs in the timescales of about 10-100 picoseconds and exhibits substantial kinetic isotope effects. It, however, does not discernably affect nanosecond deactivation of the photoexcited corrole and its basic photophysics. Nevertheless, this excited-state tautomerization dynamics can strongly affect photoinduced processes with comparable or shorter timescales, considering the 100-meV energy differences between the tautomers in the excited state. The effects on the kinetics of charge transfer and energy transfer, initiated prior to reaching the equilibrium thermalization of the excited-state tautomer population, can be indeed substantial. Such considerations are crucially important in the design of systems for artificial photosynthesis and other forms of energy conversion and charge transduction.

Access to Corrole-Appended Persubstituted Benzofurans by a Multicomponent Reaction: The Dual Role of p-Chloranil

A multicomponent reaction among dipyrranes, aryl-propargyl aldehydes, and p-chloranil leading to 10-(benzofuran-2-yl)corroles is described. p-Chloranil was identified as a crucial reagent playing a twofold role: an oxidant taking part in the formation of the corrole macrocycle and a component undergoing heteroannulation to the incipient 10-arylethynylcorrole. A series of corroles bearing persubstituted benzofuran-2-yl moieties have been synthesized, and their fundamental electronic properties have been studied via UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies.

Theoretical study of the geometric and electronic characterization of carbendazim-based drug (Nocodazole)

Scarcity in studies defining the precise three-dimensional structure of approved drugs has led to an abandoning of their use for other therapeutic indications. In this manuscript, we solely focus on studying computationally the anticancer drug “Nocodazole” as a model compound for anthelmintic drugs –due to structural similarity– proven to exert anticancer activity such as Mebendazole and Albendazole. Computations on Nocodazole structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) revealed possible existence of at least 6 conformers of Nocodazole. By combining the reported experimental UV-Vis data with our calculations, two conformers were assigned as the predominant structures of Nocodazole. In addition, td-DFT calculations revealed that the conformational flexibility of Nocodazole results in significant changes in atomic and molecular charge densities. The results have ramifications in identification of possible conformers of carbendazim-based drugs for repurposing in oncology through giving deep insights in understanding the spatial and electronic changes upon drug binding to anticancer targets.

5,10,15-Triarylcorrole atropisomerism

A series of 5,10,15-triarylcorroles has been prepared, with the meso-aryl rings functionalized with different substituents to investigate their influence on the aryl ring rotation with respect to the corrole plane. The study has been carried out by different NMR techniques, allowing the complete assignment of the 1H NMR spectra and giving insights on the kinetic and thermodynamic factors driving the atropisomerism in triarylcorrole derivatives.

Covalently Linked Bis(Amido-Corroles): Inter- and Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bond-Driven Supramolecular Assembly

Four bis-corroles linked by diamide bridges were synthesized through peptide-type coupling of a trans-A₂ B-corrole acid with aliphatic and aromatic diamines. In the solid state, the hydrogen-bond pattern in these bis-corroles is strongly affected by the type of solvent used in the crystallization process. Although intramolecular hydrogen bonds play a decisive role, they are supported by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and weak N-H⋅⋅⋅π interactions between molecules of toluene and the corrole cores. In an analogy to mono(amido-corroles), both in crystalline state and in solutions, the aliphatic or aromatic bridge is located directly above the corrole ring. When either ethylenediamine or 2,3-diaminonaphthalene are used as linkers, incorporation of polar solvents into the crystalline lattice causes a roughly parallel orientation of the corrole rings. At the same time, both NHCO⋅⋅⋅NH corrole hydrogen bonds are intramolecular. In contrast, solvation in toluene causes a distortion with one of the hydrogen bonds being intermolecular. Interestingly, intramolecular hydrogen bonds are always formed between the -NHCO- functionality located further from the benzene ring present at the position 10-meso. In solution, the hydrogen-bonds pattern of the bis(amido-corroles) is strongly affected by the type of the solvent. Compared with toluene (strongly high-field shifted signals), DMSO and pyridine disrupt self-assembly, whereas hexafluoroisopropanol strengthens intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

Chiral crystals from porphyrinoids possessing a very low racemization barrier

A novel chiral crystal of 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole was obtained and characterized by various methods including X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy.

The impact of solvents on the singlet and triplet states of selected fluorine corroles – absorption, fluorescence, and optoacoustic studies

This paper examines the influence of aprotic solvents on the spectroscopic properties as well as the energy deactivation of two free-base corrole dyes substituted with C₆F₅ and/or 4-NO₂C₆H₄ groups.

Self-assembling corroles

Amide-corroles form self-assembled structures via interaction of the core-NH with CO.