Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium Hemiporphyrazines

20π-Electron Antiaromatic Benziphthalocyanines with Absorption Reaching the Near-Infrared-II Region

Although second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1500 nm) light has attracted considerable attention, especially for life sciences applications, the development of organic dyes with NIR-II absorption remains a formidable challenge. Herein we report the design, synthesis, and electronic properties of 20π-electron antiaromatic benziphthalocyanines (BPcs) that exhibit intense absorption bands in the NIR region. The strong, low-energy absorption of the antiaromatic BPcs is attributed to electric-dipole-allowed HOMO-LUMO transitions with narrow band gaps, enabled by the reduced structural symmetry of BPc compared with regular porphyrins and phthalocyanines. The combination of peripheral substituents and a central metal decreases the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, leading to the extension of the absorption bands into the NIR-II region (reaching 1100 nm) under reductive conditions.

A Switchable Near-Infrared-Absorbing Dye Based on Redox-Bistable Benzitetraazaporphyrin

Activatable near-infrared (NIR) dyes responsive to external stimuli are used in medical and other applications. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of bench-stable 18π- and 20π-electron benzitetraazaporphyrins (BzTAPs) possessing redox-switchable NIR properties. X-Ray, NMR, and UV/Visible-NIR analyses revealed that 20π-electron BzTAP 1 exhibits NIR absorption and antiaromaticity with a paratropic ring-current, while 18π-electron BzTAP 2 shows weakly aromatic character with NIR inertness. Notably, the NIR-silent BzTAP 2 was readily converted to the NIR-active BzTAP 1 in the presence of mild reducing agents such as amine. The intense NIR absorption band of BzTAP 1 is in sharp contrast to the very weak absorption bands of previously reported antiaromatic porphyrinoids. Molecular orbital analysis revealed that symmetry-lowering perturbation of the 20π-electron porphyrinoid skeleton enables the HOMO-LUMO transition of 1 to be electric-dipole-allowed. BzTAPs are expected to be useful for constructing activatable NIR probes working in reductive environments.

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.

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).

N-Substituted Azacalixphyrins: Synthesis, Properties, and Self-Assembly

Pre- and postintroduction of substituents with respect to the macrocyclization step leads to previously unknown N-substituted azacalixphyrins. The stepwise synthetic approach has been studied in detail to highlight the key role of the N-substituents of the precursors and/or intermediates in terms of reactivity. Based on a combined experimental and theoretical investigation, the relationship between the properties of the macrocycles and their degree of substitution is rationalized. Depending on the nature of the N-substituents, the formation of supramolecular ribbon-like structures could also be observed, as demonstrated by combined TEM, SEM, AFM, and FTIR experiments.

A Chiral Hemiporphyrazine Derivative: Synthesis and Chiroptical Properties

The synthesis of an optically active hemiporphyrazine with chiral binaphthyl substituents (1) is reported, providing the first example of the incorporation of an intrinsically chiral moiety into the macrocyclic core of a hemiporphyrazine analogue. A negative circular dichroism (CD) signal is observed in the 325-450 nm region of the CD spectrum of (S,S)-1, while mainly positive bands are observed in the 220-325 nm region. Mirror symmetry is observed across the entire wavelength range of the CD spectra of (R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1. An irreversible one-electron oxidation wave with an onset potential at 1.07 V is observed by cyclic voltammetry, along with a reversible one-electron reduction wave at -0.85 V. Density functional calculations reproduce the experimentally observed data and trends, and provide further insight into the nature of the electronic transitions.

Boron templated synthesis of a BODIPY analogue from a phthalocyanine precursor

The synthesis of aza(dibenzopyrro)methenes (ADBMs) using aryl boron compounds as templates is described. Compounds (1–3) are structurally related to the BODIPYs and were isolated with terminal imine, oxo, or mixed imine-oxo groups. Compounds 1–3 were investigated for their absorption/emission properties, and were probed by DFT and TDDFT methods.

Excitonic luminescence of hemiporphyrazines

Metal-free hemiporphyrazine (HpH(2)) is a notoriously insoluble material possessing interesting photophysical properties. Here we report the synthesis, structure, and photophysical properties of an octahedral zinc trans-ditriflate hemiporphyrazine complex "HpH(2)Zn(OTf)(2)" that contains a neutral hemiporphyrazine ligand. The photophysical properties of hemiporphyrazine are largely unaffected by introduction of zinc(II) triflate, but a dramatic increase in solubility is observed. HpH(2)Zn(OTf)(2) therefore provides a convenient model system to evaluate the impact of aggregation on the photophysical properties of hemiporphyrazine. Soluble aggregates and crystalline materials containing planar hemiporphyrazines exhibit relatively strong absorbance of visible light (450-600 nm) and red luminescence (600-700 nm). Hemiporphyrazine monohydrate (HpH(2)·H(2)O), in contrast, has a nonplanar "saddle-shaped" conformation that exhibits very little absorbance of visible light in solution or in the solid state. Upon photoexcitation at 380 nm, HpH(2)Zn(OTf)(2) and HpH(2) exhibit multiwavelength emissions centered at 450 and 650 nm. Emissions at 450 nm are highly anisotropic, while emissions at 650 nm are fully depolarized with respect to a plane-polarized excitation source. Taken together, our results suggest that excitonic coupling of aggregated and crystalline hemiporphyrazines results in increased absorbance and emission of visible light from S(0) ↔ S(1) transitions that are usually symmetry forbidden in isolated species. In contrast to previously proposed theories involving excited-state intramolecular proton transfer, we propose that the multiple-wavelength luminescent emissions of HpH(2)Zn(OTf)(2) and HpH(2) are due to emissive S(1) and S(2) states in aggregated and crystalline hemiporphyrazines. These results may provide a better understanding of the nonlinear optical properties of these materials in solution and in the solid state.

The synthesis and metal binding chemistry of carbahemiporphyrazines with an electron withdrawing substituent

Benziphthalocyanine (bzpc) and dicarbahemiporphyrazine (dchp) are phthalocyanine analogs where one and two of the isoindoline units have been replaced with benzene rings. In this report, we present dchp and bzpc analogs 1 and 2 where CF3 groups have been placed on the 5-position of the benzene rings. Compounds 1 and 2 have identical structural features as their unmodified parent macrocycles, but some differences are observed in their metal adducts. Complex 1Ag shows few differences with the analogous dchp complex, but compounds 1Cu and 2Co exhibit reductions in M – C bond lengths arising from the electron withdrawing nature of the CF3 unit.