Facile Formation of Stable Neutral Radicals and Cations from [22]Smaragdyrin BF2 Complexes

[22]Pentaphyrins(2.0.1.1.0) Displaying N-Fusion, Pyrrole-Rearrangement, and Dimerization Reactions Upon Oxidation and Metalation

Exploration of expanded porphyrins with unprecedented reactivities has remained important. Here [22]pentaphyrins(2.0.1.1.0) were synthesized as a constitutional isomer of sapphyrin by acid-catalyzed cyclization of 1,14-dibromo-5,10-diaryltripyrrin with 1,2-di(pyrro-2-ly)ethenes. These pentaphyrins display roughly planar structures and varying aromaticities depending upon the vinylene structures. The 19,20-ditolyl pentaphyrin gave an N-fused product and an unprecedented pyrrole-rearranged product, depending upon the oxidation conditions. Remarkably, upon the metalation with CuCl, the N-fused product and the pyrrole-rearranged product afforded an inner β-β coupled face-to-face CuII complex dimer and an outer β-β coupled lateral CuII complex dimer, respectively, in fairly good yields. Further, [22]pentaphyrin(2.0.1.1.0) fused with a NiII porphyrin was effectively dimerized upon oxidation with MnO2 to give a 16-16' directly linked dl-dimer.

The unprecedented strong paratropic ring current of a bis-PdII complex of 5,10,23-trimesityl [28]heptaphyrin(1.1.0.0.1.0.0)

Acid-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts-type cyclization of tetrapyrrolic BF2 complex 1 and α,α'-dibromotripyrrin 2 gave 5,10,23-trimesityl [28]heptaphyrin(1.1.0.0.1.0.0) BF2 complex 3BF2 as a stable and moderate antiaromatic macrocycle. Demetalation of 3BF2 with methanesulfonic acid followed by treatment with HCl gave free-base salt 3HCl that holds a chloride anion at the core. This salt displays a planar structure with an inverted pyrrole and a stronger paratropic ring current. Metalation of neutral free-base 3 with PdCl2 gave bis-PdII complex 3Pd2 as a stable antiaromatic molecule. The 1H NMR spectrum of 3Pd2 displays signals due to pyrrolic β-protons in the range of -1.06 ∼ -1.90 ppm, indicating the unprecedented strong paratropic ring current.

Fused Aromatic and Antiaromatic Smaragdyrin Dimers

Singly-linked aromatic [22]smaragdyrin BF2 complex dimer was synthesized by the reductive coupling of 16-brominated [22]smaragdyrin BF2 complex, which was oxidized to a stable diradical with PbO2. As the first example of fused smaragdyrin dimer, a fused [22]smaragdyrin BF2 complex dimer was synthesized by the oxidation of a CuCl-BF2 complex dimer with FeCl3 and subsequent reduction with NaBH4. After removal of the BF2 group, the singly-linked and fused aromatic dimers were oxidized to the corresponding antiaromatic [20]smaragdyrin free base dimers. The first oxidation and reduction potentials of these dimers are split depending upon the intramolecular electronic interactions, which are larger for the fused dimers. Despite the large electronic interactions, the aromatic and antiaromatic characters are well preserved in the fused dimers.

Stabilization of the Neutral [25]Hexaphyrin(1.0.1.0.1.0) Radical by Hetero-Bimetal-Coordination

Stabilization of hexaphyrin(1.0.1.0.1.0) (named "rosarin") in its 25π radical state is achieved using a hetero-bimetal-coordination strategy. The antiaromatic BF2 complex B-1 was first synthesized, and then rhodium ion was inserted into B-1 to produce the BF2/Rh(CO)2 mixed complex Rh-B-1 as a highly air-stable radical. The structures of B-1 and Rh-B-1 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractions, and the antiaromatic or radical character was identified by various spectroscopy evidence and theoretical calculations. Rh-B-1 exhibits excellent redox properties, enabling amphoteric aromatic-antiaromatic conversion to their 24/26π states. Compared to the 24/26π conjugation systems on the same skeleton, Rh-B-1 has the narrowest electrochemical and optical band gaps, with the longest absorption band at 1010 nm. The ring-current analysis reveals intense paratropic currents for B-1 and co-existing diatropic-paratropic currents for Rh-B-1. This hetero-bimetal-coordination system provides a novel platform for organic radical stabilization on porphyrinoids, showing the prospect of modulating ligand oxidation states through rational coordination design.

Carbazole Based Smaragdyrins: Synthesis, Aromaticity Switching, and Formation of a Spiro-Dimer

Carbazole-incorporated smaragdyrin BF2-complex 3 was synthesized by SNAr reaction of 3,5-dibromo-8-mesityl-BODIPY 1 with 3,6-di(tert-butyl)-1,8-di(pyrrol-2-yl)carbazole 2 as a nucleophile. Demetalation of 3 with ZrCl4 gave the corresponding smaragdyrin free base 4 in a good yield. Oxidations of 3 and 4 with MnO2 gave smaragdyrins 5 and 6, respectively, both followed by aromaticity switching, since the oxidized products showed a moderate paratropic ring current owing to their 20π-electronic circuits. Further, treatment of 4 with [RhCl(CO)2]2 in the presence of NaOAc gave RhI complex 7, and oxidation of 3 with RuCl3 in the presence of triethylamine led to the formation of a spiro dimer product, 8.

Synthesis of Pyrrole-Sharing Fused Porphyrinoid Hybrids by Post-fabrication of Ni(II) Porphyrins

Pyrrole-sharing fused hybrids of NiII porphyrin with PdII N-confused(NC)-corrole and PdII NC-oxaporphyrin were synthesized by post-fabrication of NiII porphyrins. Specifically this consists of Friedel-Crafts type aromatic substitution reaction of meso-free NiII porphyrin with α,α'-dibromotripyrrin and Pd(OAc)2 assisted cyclization, and final heating to induce a Pd-C bond formation. NiII porphyrins fused with PdII NC-corrole and with PdII NC-oxaporphyrins show coplanar structures with a shared pyrrole unit. In these hybrids, the PdII NC-oxaporphyrin is aromatic and the PdII NC-corrole is moderately antiaromatic and these local electronic properties interact to influence the whole network.