Conjugated macrocycles related to the porphyrins. Part 18: Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of electron-rich benzi- and oxybenziporphyrins: influence of steric and electronic factors on porphyrinoid aromaticity

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Properties, and Metalation of 3-Alkoxybenziporphyrins

A series of 5-alkoxy-1,3-benzenedicarbaldehydes and related dimers were prepared in three steps from dimethyl 5-hydroxyisophthalate. Acid catalyzed condensation of the dialdehydes with a tripyrrane dicarboxylic acid, followed by oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, afforded good yields of 3-alkoxybenziporphyrins, although dimeric tetraaldehydes failed to give isolatable porphyrinoid products. Proton NMR spectroscopy gave no indication of an aromatic ring current, but addition of trifluoroacetic acid resulted in the formation of dications that exhibited weakly diatropic characteristics. Spectroscopic titration with TFA demonstrated that stepwise protonation took place, generating monocationic and dicationic species. 3-Alkoxybenziporphyrins reacted with nickel(II) or palladium(II) acetate to give the related nickel(II) or palladium(II) complexes. These stable organometallic derivatives showed increased diatropic properties that were most pronounced for the palladium(II) complexes. These unique porphyrinoids provide further insights into the properties of benziporphyrins.

Near-infrared absorbing nonaromatic core-modified meta-benzicalixhexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1)s

Stable nonaromatic core-modified m-benzicalixhexaphyrins containing one m-phenylene ring, four pyrrole rings and one heterocyclic ring such as furan, thiophene, selenophene and telluorophene connected via four meso-sp2 carbons and two meso-sp3 carbons in a macrocyclic framework were synthesized. The m-benzitripyrrane dicarbinol was condensed with 16-heterocycle tripyrranes under mild acid-catalyzed and inert conditions followed by open-air oxidation with DDQ to obtain macrocycles in 2-5% yields. The presence of two -OH groups in the cis-orientation at two different meso-sp3 carbons, which are adjacent to the m-phenylene ring of the macrocycle, was confirmed through detailed 1D and 2D NMR studies. NMR studies indicated that the heterocyclic ring present across the m-phenylene ring prefers to be in the inverted conformation in these macrocycles. The macrocycles exhibited two intense absorption bands in the lower wavelength region of 320-580 nm and one broad absorption band that extended from the visible to NIR region, and the protonated derivatives of such macrocycles showed significant bathochromic shifts to the NIR region. Additionally, the electrochemical studies indicated that the macrocycles underwent easier oxidation due to their electron-rich nature. DFT studies revealed that the macrocycles adopted highly distorted conformation, which was consistent with experimental results.

Organometallic Chemistry within the Structured Environment Provided by the Macrocyclic Cores of Carbaporphyrins and Related Systems

The unique environment within the core of carbaporphyrinoid systems provides a platform to explore unusual organometallic chemistry. The ability of these structures to form stable organometallic derivatives was first demonstrated for N-confused porphyrins but many other carbaporphyrin-type systems were subsequently shown to exhibit similar or complementary properties. Metalation commonly occurs with catalytically active transition metal cations and the resulting derivatives exhibit widely different physical, chemical and spectroscopic properties and range from strongly aromatic to nonaromatic and antiaromatic species. Metalation may trigger unusual, highly selective, oxidation reactions. Alkyl group migration has been observed within the cavity of metalated carbaporphyrins, and in some cases ring contraction of the carbocyclic subunit takes place. Over the past thirty years, studies in this area have led to multiple synthetic routes to carbaporphyrinoid ligands and remarkable organometallic chemistry has been reported. An overview of this important area is presented.

Synthesis and Studies of Fused Benzo-Benzisapphyrins

A series of rare examples of fused benzo-benzisapphyrins were synthesized readily by (3 + 2) condensation of benzodipyrrole-derived diol and para-benzitripyrrane in the presence of 0.5 equiv of TFA in CH₂Cl₂ under inert atmosphere conditions accompanied by DDQ oxidation in open air. The crude compounds were separated by basic alumina column chromatography and afforded pure fused benzo-benzisapphyrins in 20-22% yields. The fused sapphyrins were characterized in detail by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy. The ¹H NMR spectra recorded at both 298 and at 233 K clearly exhibited the presence of a strong diatropic ring current in benzo-benzisapphyrins, and the macrocycles are of aromatic nature. The DFT-optimized structure of benzo-benzisapphyrin revealed that the macrocycle was planar to a great extent due to the rigid structure of the dibenzopyrrole moiety, and the NICS(0) value of -11.2 ppm supports the aromatic nature of macrocycles. The absorption spectra of benzo-benzisapphyrins showed three weak Q bands approximately in the region of 650-900 nm and a strong Soret band at 480 nm, along with a shoulder band at ∼510 nm. The diprotonated derivative generated by the addition of excess TFA to the benzo-benzisapphyrin macrocycle exhibited bathochromically shifted absorption bands compared to the free base macrocycle.

Metal Complexes of Porphyrinoids Containing Nonpyrrolic Heterocycles

The replacement of one or more pyrrolic building block(s) of a porphyrin by a nonpyrrolic heterocycle leads to the formation of so-called pyrrole-modified porphyrins (PMPs), porphyrinoids of broad structural variability. The wide range of coordination environments (type, number, charge, and architecture of the donor atoms) that the pyrrole-modified frameworks provide to the central metal ions, the frequent presence of donor atoms at their periphery, and their often observed nonplanarity or conformational flexibility distinguish the complexes of the PMPs clearly from those of the traditional square-planar, dianionic, N₄-coordinating (hydro)porphyrins. Their different coordination properties suggest their utilization in areas beyond which regular metalloporphyrins are suitable. Following a general introduction to the synthetic methodologies available to generate pyrrole-modified porphyrins, their general structure, history, coordination chemistry, and optical properties, this Review highlights the chemical, electronic (optical), and structural differences of specific classes of metalloporphyrinoids containing nonpyrrolic heterocycles. The focus is on macrocycles with similar "tetrapyrrolic" architectures as porphyrins, thusly excluding the majority of expanded porphyrins. We highlight the relevance and application of these metal complexes in biological and technical fields as chemosensors, catalysts, photochemotherapeutics, or imaging agents. This Review provides an introduction to the field of metallo-PMPs as well as a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of the art of their synthesis, structures, and properties. It also aims to provide encouragement for the further study of these intriguing and structurally versatile metalloporphyrinoids.

Synthesis, metalation and antiaromatic properties of 22-hydroxybenziporphyrins

Condensation of 5-alkyl-2-hydroxybenzene-1,3-dicarbaldehydes with a tripyrrane in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), followed by oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), gave two examples of 22-hydroxybenziporphyrins. Unlike a related meso-tetraphenyl-22-hydroxybenziporphyrin, these products were reasonably stable in solution. Dicationic species were obtained upon addition of TFA to CDCl3 solutions, and these exhibited weakly diatropic properties. However, the free base forms gave broad peaks for the macrocycle’s peripheral protons that fell into the range of 4.5–3.3 ppm, demonstrating that the system has paratropic characteristics that are consistent with the keto-tautomers. The porphyrin analogues gave broad, poorly resolved, UV-vis spectra of the type expected for nonaromatic or antiaromatic structures. Reaction of a hydroxybenziporphyrin with nickel(II), copper(II) or palladium(II) acetate gave the related coordination complexes. The nickel and palladium derivatives were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and exhibited buckled geometries with the phenolate units strongly pivoted away from the macrocyclic core.

Deprotection of a benzyl unit induces a 22π aromatic macrocycle of 3-oxypyripentaphyrin(0.1.1.1.0) with strong NIR absorption

We report aromaticity switching from a 6π pyridine ring to a 22π macrocyclic ring of 3-oxypyripentaphyrin(0.1.1.1.0). This system has potential applications in photodynamic therapy owing to macrocyclic aromaticity being selectively induced by protecting group removal and strong absorption bands produced in the NIR region especially in methanol.

Local versus global aromaticity in azuliporphyrin and benziporphyrin derivatives

Carbaporphyrinoids afford fascinating examples of competition between local and global aromaticity in conjugated, polycyclic systems. Thus, whereas density functional theory calculations reveal only a modest effect of metal complexation on the current density profiles of true carbaporphyrins and azuliporphyrins, the impact is much greater for benziporphyrins, underscoring a strong competition between local and global aromaticity in the latter system. Furthermore, the calculations shed light on the remarkable efficacy of suitably placed electron-donating substituents on the benzene ring in boosting the global diatropic currents in a metallobenziporphyrin.

Synthesis of Tellurabenziporphyrin and Its Pd(II) Complex

An unprecedented tellurabenziporphyrin containing C, N, and Te donor atoms was synthesized by condensing benzitripyrrane and tellurophene diol under acid catalyzed conditions. The tellurabenziporphyrin readily forms a Pd(II) complex when treated with PdCl₂ in CHCl₃/CH₃CN. The crystal structures of tellurabenziporphyrin and its Pd(II) complex revealed that the benzene ring hinders the π-electron delocalization. An unusual five-membered ring formed inside the macrocycle due to the strong interaction between "Te" and "N" in the Pd(II) complex.

Late transition metal complexes of oxypyriporphyrin and the platinum(II) complex of oxybenziporphyrin

Even though oxypyriporphyrin, a pyridone-containing porphyrinoid system, has the equivalent coordination core to true porphyrins, its coordination chemistry has been little explored. In this study, the first examples of palladium(II), platinum(II) and silver(II) oxypyriporphyrins have been synthesized. Conventional conditions failed to result in the formation of a platinum(II) complex, but moderate yields were obtained when oxypyriporphyrin was reacted with platinum(II) chloride in refluxing mixtures of DMF and acetic acid containing potassium acetate. The palladium(II) and platinum(II) derivatives were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The structurally analogous carbaporphyrinoid system oxybenziporphyrin was also shown to react with platinum(II) chloride under the same conditions to give a platinum(II) hydroxybenziporphyrin complex. Unlike oxybenziporphyrin, this complex is only weakly diatropic. In the presence of base, the diatropic character was reasserted to afford an aromatic anionic species.

An alternative synthesis of benziporphyrins starting from isophthaloyl chloride

An alternative route to benziporphyrins has been developed. Reaction of an [Formula: see text]-unsubstituted pyrrole ethyl ester with isophthaloyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride afforded a diketone that underwent selective reduction with diborane to give a benzitripyrrane. Cleavage of the ethyl esters with sodium hydroxide in refluxing ethylene glycol, followed by acid catalyzed condensation with a pyrrole dialdehyde and oxidation with DDQ, generated the targeted benziporphyrin product. Spectrophotometric titration of the benziporphyrin with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) demonstrated the sequential formation of mono- and dicationic species. At lower dilutions, the free base benziporphyrin showed unusually strong [Formula: see text] coupling between two adjacent methyl substituents, indicating that the connecting unit has substantial olefinic characteristics.

What’s in a name? The MacDonald condensation

In 1960, MacDonald and coworkers introduced a new method for porphyrin synthesis that involved the acid-catalyzed condensation of dipyrrylmethane dialdehydes with [Formula: see text],[Formula: see text]-diunsubstituted dipyrrylmethanes or the related dicarboxylic acids, followed by an air oxidation. The key bond forming steps entail electrophilic substitution at two pyrrole units with the aldehyde moieties to generate, following elimination of water, a 5,15-dihydroporphyrin or porphodimethene intermediate. Following addition of sodium acetate, or in later procedures zinc acetate, the dihydroporphyrins readily air oxidize to the fully aromatic porphyrin system. This strategy, which parallels chemistry contemporaneously developed by R. B. Woodward at Harvard for the total synthesis of chlorophyll [Formula: see text], demonstrated that dipyrrylmethanes were sufficiently stable to be utilized as intermediates in porphyrin syntheses and that porphodimethene formation circumvented acidolytic scrambling reactions that might lead to isomeric porphyrin products. This type of chemistry was later adapted by Johnson, Woodward and others to prepare porphyrin-type systems by a “3 + 1” strategy, or expanded porphyrins by “3 + 2” or other combinations of oligopyrrolic precursors. In recent years, the term “MacDonald condensation” has been increasingly used to describe other types of chemistry involving oligopyrrolic intermediates. Following on from a historical review of this area, guidelines for the identification of MacDonald-type reactions are proposed.

Synthesis and spectroscopic behaviour of metal complexes of meso-alkylidenyl carbaporphyrinoids and their expanded analogues

Metal complexes of meso-diethyl malonylidene carbaporphyrinoids have been synthesized and fully characterized.

Benziporphyrins, a unique platform for exploring the aromatic characteristics of porphyrinoid systems

Benziporphyrins and related systems exhibit a wide range of properties and may possess nonaromatic, strongly aromatic or even antiaromatic characteristics.

Relative stability of benziporphyrin and naphthiporphyrin tautomers and the emergence of macrocyclic diatropicity

The conformations and relative stabilities of a series of benziporphyrin and naphthiporphyrin tautomers were calculated and the diatropic properties of each of these species were assessed. The results were in good agreement with experimental observations and allow favorable delocalization pathways to be identified.

Tetraaryldimethoxybenziporphyrins. At the Edge of Carbaporphyrinoid Aromaticity

A series of eight dimethoxybenziporphyrins were prepared in three steps from 1,3-dimethoxybenzene or 2,6-dimethoxytoluene. Dibromination, followed by lithium-halogen exchange and reaction with benzaldehyde gave dicarbinol intermediates. These reacted with pyrrole and aryl aldehydes in the presence of BF3.Et2O in chloroform, followed by oxidation with DDQ, to give the benziporphyrins in 15-25% yield. These compounds readily gave nickel(II) and palladium(II) organometallic derivatives and could be selectively reduced with sodium borohydride to give unstable benziphlorins. Regioselective oxidation with silver acetate afforded the related 22-acetoxybenziporphyrins in 52-64% yield. The dimethoxybenziporphyrins showed chemical shifts by proton NMR spectroscopy that were consistent with weakly diatropic macrocycles. However, addition of TFA gave dications that showed far more significant shifts that are attributed to the presence of a more substantial diatropic ring current. The internal CH for 11H2(2+) was observed at 3.5 ppm, but this effect was diminished for the 3-methylbenziporphyrins 12H2(2+) where this resonance appears at 4.7 ppm. Even in the absence of the methoxy substituents, the dication derived from tetraphenylbenziporphyrin 8H2(2+) shows an upfield shift for this resonance to 5.5 ppm. The dications of the 22-acetoxybenziporphyrins also show similar effects despite the presence of an internal ester moiety. These results demonstrate that a spectrum of diatropic character can manifest even in highly crowded benziporphyrin derivatives.

Aromatic and Nonaromatic Pyriporphyrins

Pyriporphyrins with three different orientations for the pyridine moiety have been prepared using a '3 + 1' strategy. The nonaromatic pyriporphyrins are stable so long as phenyl substituents are present at the meso-positions adjacent to the pyridine ring. An aromatic dihydropyriporphyrin with an external CO2Ph protective group has also been prepared from 2,4-pyridinedicarbaldehyde.

Tetraphenyloxybenziporphyrin, a New Organometallic Ligand for Silver(III) and Gold(III)

[Structure: see text] Reaction of 4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde with excess phenyl magnesium bromide gave a dicarbinol and this condensed with pyrrole and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of BF3.Et2O to afford, following oxidation with DDQ, novel tetraarylcarbaporphyrinoids in 10-24% yield. Further reaction with silver(I) acetate or gold(III) acetate gave stable organometallic derivatives that retained the aromatic characteristics of the parent macrocycle.

Benziporphyrins: exploring arene chemistry in a macrocyclic environment

Benziporphyrins are synthetic porphyrin analogues, in which one of the pyrroles is replaced with a benzenoid ring. The arene can be incorporated into the macrocycle in several ways leading to molecules with distinct physical and chemical properties. By appropriately changing the structure of benziporphyrins, it is possible to affect their aromaticity, tautomeric equilibria, and reactivity. Benziporphyrins are versatile ligands, which offer a means to study the metal-arene couple in a macrocyclic environment. The coordination brings the metal ion into the vicinity of the arene fragment leading to activation of C-H bonds or weak interactions, which can be observed spectroscopically.

Synthesis, Spectroscopy, and Reactivity of meso-Unsubstituted Azuliporphyrins and Their Heteroanalogues. Oxidative Ring Contractions to Carba-, Oxacarba-, Thiacarba-, and Selenacarbaporphyrins

This paper reports the first detailed study on meso-unsubstituted azuliporphyrins, an important family of porphyrin-like molecules where one of the usual pyrrole rings has been replaced by an azulene subunit. Although the azulene moiety introduces an element of cross-conjugation, zwitterionic resonance contributors with tropylium and carbaporphyrin substructures give azuliporphyrins diatropic character that falls midway between true carbaporphyrins and nonaromatic benziporphyrins. Protonation affords an aromatic dication where this type of resonance interaction is favored due to the associated charge delocalization. Two different "3 + 1" syntheses of meso-unsubstituted azuliporphyrins have been developed. Acid-catalyzed reaction of readily available tripyrrane dicarboxylic acids with 1,3-azulenedicarbaldehyde, followed by oxidation with DDQ or FeCl(3), affords good yields of azuliporphyrins. Alternatively, azulene reacted with acetoxymethylpyrroles (2 equiv) in refluxing acetic acid/2-propanol to give tripyrrane analogues, and following a deprotection step, condensation with a pyrrole dialdehyde in TFA-CH(2)Cl(2) gave the azuliporphyrin system. The latter approach was also used to prepare 23-thia- and 23-selenaazuliporphyrins. However, reaction of the azulitripyrrane with 2,5-furandicarbaldehyde produced a mixture of three oxacarbaporphyrins in moderate yield. The free base forms of thia- and selenaazuliporphyrins both showed intermediary aromatic character that was considerably enhanced upon protonation. The UV-vis spectra for azuliporphyrins and their heteroanalogues showed four bands between 350 and 500 nm and broad absorptions at higher wavelengths. Addition of TFA gave dications that showed porphyrin-like spectra with Soret bands between 460 and 500 nm. In the presence of pyrrolidine, azuliporphyrins and their heteroanalogues undergo nucleophilic attack on the seven-membered ring to give carbaporphyrin adducts. These systems also undergo oxidative rearrangements under basic conditions with t-BuOOH to give benzocarbaporphyrins. The selenaazuliporphyrin afforded two benzoselenacarbaporphyrins, a previously unknown core-modified carbaporphyrin system. The proton NMR spectra for these compounds showed strong diatropic ring currents with the internal CH resonance upfield above -5 ppm, while the meso-protons resonated downfield near 10 ppm. The UV-vis spectra were also porphyrin-like and gave strong Soret bands at ca. 440 nm.

Synthesis of Sapphyrins, Heterosapphyrins, and Carbasapphyrins by a “4 + 1” Approach

Sapphyrins are an important group of expanded porphyrins that show valuable anion binding characteristics. In this study, a "4 + 1" route to sapphyrin systems has been developed. Reaction of dialdehydes with a known tetrapyrrole intermediate 11b incorporating a bipyrrolic subunit afforded a wide range of sapphyrin-type products. The best conditions for these reactions involved carrying out the condensation of the dialdehydes with the tetrapyrrole in TFA-dichloromethane, followed by oxidation with dilute aqueous solutions of ferric chloride. A pyrrole dialdehyde reacted under these conditions to give sapphyrin in 50% yield, while furan and thiophene dialdehydes afforded the corresponding oxa- and thiasapphyrins in 66-90% yield. Pyrrole dialdehydes with fused phenanthrene or acenaphthylene rings also reacted with 11b to give the related phenanthro- and acenaphthosapphyrins in excellent yields. As was the case for acenaphthoporphyrins, the acenaphthosapphyrin gave longer wavelength absorptions than the corresponding phenanthrene fused structure, although the differences were not as marked as those seen in the porphyrin series. Reaction of 11b with 1,3-diformylindene gave a benzocarbasapphyrin in 38% yield, while a triformyl cyclopentadiene reacted with the tetrapyrrole to give a carbasapphyrin aldehyde in 7-12% yield. The free base carbasapphyrins were unstable but the monoprotonated hydrochloride salts could easily be isolated and characterized. Carbasapphyrins retain a strong diatropic ring current due to the presence of 22pi electron delocalization pathways. In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, C-protonated dications are generated. Condensation of 1,3-azulenedicarbaldehyde with 11b gave an azulisapphyrin dihydrochloride salt in 35% yield, and this also showed a strong diatropic ring current. Addition of base gave the unstable free base form, while pyrrolidine formed an unstable adduct that showed an intense Soret band at 480 nm. These results demonstrate that many of the themes observed for modified porphyrins and carbaporphyrins also apply to the sapphyrin series, although in some cases reduced stability hampers these investigations.

Tropiporphyrins, Cycloheptatrienyl Analogues of the Porphyrins: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Chemistry, and Structural Characterization of a Silver(III) Derivative

Tripyrranes were condensed with 1,3,5-cycloheptriene-1,6-dicarbaldehyde in TFA-CH(2)Cl(2) to give, following oxidation with 0.1% aqueous ferric chloride solutions, a series of tropiporphyrins 9. These cycloheptatrienyl analogues of the porphyrins show strong diatropic ring currents by proton NMR spectroscopy where the internal CH gives a resonance at -7.3 ppm, although the meso-protons are not shifted as far downfield as most aromatic porphyrinoid systems. These data indicate that the seven-membered ring distorts the porphyrinoid macrocycle and decreases the overall diatropicity in tropiporphyrins. Addition of trace amounts of TFA to solutions of 9 affords the corresponding aromatic monocations, and at higher acid concentrations a nonaromatic dication is generated. The dication has undergone C-protonation at one of the meso-bridges and has lost the plane of symmetry present in the parent system. This species shows significant downfield shifts to the cycloheptatrienyl protons, indicating that this unit has taken on tropylium character. Tropiporphyrin 9a underwent a Diels-Alder cycloaddition with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in refluxing xylenes to give modest yields of the related adduct. The Diels-Alder adduct 17 showed an increased diatropic ring current where the internal proton shifted beyond -9 ppm, and this indicates that the [18]annulene substructure has flattened out compared to 9a. Diimide reduction of 9a afforded a dihydrotropiporphyrin that also showed a stronger ring current. Tropiporphyrins 9 were also shown to react with silver(I) acetate in the presence of DBU in refluxing pyridine to give the corresponding silver(III) organometallic derivatives. The meso-protons for these metal complexes give proton NMR chemical shift values similar to those for the parent tropiporphyrins, indicating that the macrocycle is still distorted, but the external olefinic protons are shifted downfield compared to 9. A diphenyl-substituted silver(III) derivative 18b was further characterized by X-ray crystallography. This shows that the cycloheptatriene unit takes on a highly twisted geometry that distorts the overall conformation of the porphyrinoid macrocycle.

Oxybenziporphyrins, Oxypyriporphyrins, Benzocarbaporphyrins, and Their 23-Oxa and 23-Thia Analogues: Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, Metalation, and Structural Characterization of a Palladium(II) Organometallic Derivative

A series of nine porphyrin analogues have been synthesized using the "3 + 1" variant on the MacDonald condensation. Tripyrrane-type systems with a centrally unsubstituted pyrrole, furan, or thiophene ring were prepared using conventional methods, and these were condensed with indene-1,3-dicarbaldehyde, 5-formylsalicylaldehyde, or 3-hydroxy-2,6-pyridinedicarbaldehyde in the presence of TFA to generate benzocarba-, oxybenzi-, and oxypyriporphyrins, respectively. The furan-containing analogues proved to be highly basic and could only be isolated as the corresponding hydrochloride salts. All nine analogue systems showed porphyrin-like UV-vis spectra with one or two Soret absorptions near 400 nm and a series of weaker bands at longer wavelengths. These systems also showed large diatropic ring currents by proton NMR spectroscopy that were comparable to true porphyrins. In the presence of trace amounts of TFA, benzocarbaporphyrin 12 formed a monocation, and in 50% TFA a C-protonated dication was generated. The 23-oxacarbaporphyrin 14 gave a monocation in chloroform, although the free base was generated in 5% Et(3)N-chloroform. In 50% TFA-CHCl(3), 14 afforded a mixture of mono- and diprotonated species. Thiacarbaporphyrin 15 also formed a monocation in the presence of TFA, but C-protonation was relatively disfavored for this system. Nonetheless, in the presence of TFA-d, 12, 14, and 15 all showed rapid exchange of the internal NH and CH protons. Carbaporphyrin 12 also showed slow exchange at the meso-positions, but this process was not observed for its heteroanalogues 14 and 15. Protonation studies were also conducted for oxybenziporphyrins and oxypyriporphyrins 16-21. Oxacarbaporphyrin 14 was shown to be a superior organometallic ligand and afforded good yields of the related nickel(II) and palladium(II) derivatives under mild conditions. A low yield of the platinum(II) complex could also be isolated. All three complexes retained their aromatic character, although the Pd(II) derivative appeared to possess a slightly larger diatropic ring current. The palladium(II) complex 27 was further characterized by X-ray crystallography. The macrocyclic core was shown to be highly planar where the dihedral angles of the component pyrrole, furan and indene rings relative to the mean [18]annulene plane were all </=2.1 degrees.