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 Triply Linked Copper(III) Dicarbacorrole Dimer

A triply linked dicarbacorrole dimer (7) was synthesized from a new meso-meso singly linked dicarbacorrole dimer precursor (6) via an oxidative fusion reaction by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH). Single crystal X-ray structure of 7 adopts a flat conformation with a length as ca. 15.946 Å and a width as 6.903 Å, which can be regarded as a short carbaporphyrinoid tape. Two coordinated Cu ions keeps the +3 oxidation state in 7, as confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This is in sharp contrast to the Osuka's triply linked tetrapyrrolic corrole dimers, where the inner 3NH form is not stable and thus can only act as a divalent ligand. Due to the non-aromatic nature of dicarbacorrole macrocycle, the largely decreased HOMO-LUMO gap and red-shifted absorption of 7 are best ascribed to the strong electronic interaction between two dipyrromethene-type chromophores. To our knowledge, this is the first fully fused carbaporphyrinoid dimer with β-β, meso-meso, β-β triply linkages prepared to date.

Advent and features of pyriporphyrinoids: an overview of a pyridine-based porphyrin analogue

Pyriporphyrinoids have recently attracted a significant proliferation of attention due to their versatile characters, which stem from structural motifs in which the pyridine moiety is involved. The evolution of pyriporphyrin chemistry revealed the subtle modifications of the macrocyclic core that tweak the electronic structure as compared to the parental macrocycle. The amendment of π-electronic organization inside the core manifests exceptional photophysical and coordination properties that cover a vast range of seemingly contradictory fields. In fundamental chemistry, the pyridine unit acts as a modulator of π-conjugated porphyrinoid systems, resulting in aromaticity swapping. From the applied chemistry perspective, these macrocycles are primarily utilized as (i) sensors, (ii) NIR absorbing photoacoustic dyes, (iii) electrochemical catalysts, (iv) singlet biradicaloid generation and (v) contributors to generate metal complexes with intriguing binding modes. Surprisingly, despite their prominence, pyriporphyrinoids are inadequately investigated, while pyridine unit-embedded calixphyrin, calixpyridinopyrrole and calixpyridine are barely reported. This review article illustrates the controlled formation of specific porphyrinic scaffolds with pyridine unit(s) and diverse functionalized heterocyclic and/or carbocyclic building block(s), and demonstrates a substantial influence on the macrocyclic properties.

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 Properties of Nonaromatic Meta-Benziheptaphyrins and Aromatic Para-Benziheptaphyrins

Two examples of nonaromatic m -benziheptaphyrins and two examples of aromatic p -benziheptaphyrins were synthesized by [5+2] condensation of appropriate m -benzi pentapyrrane and p -benzi pentapyrrane respectively and bithiophene diol in CH 2 Cl 2 in the presence of one equivalent of TFA under inert conditions for 30 min followed by oxidation with DDQ in open air for 1 h. The 1 H NMR studies carried out at room temperature as well as at lower temperature indicated the nonaromatic nature of m -benziheptaphyrins with inversion of two thiophene rings and aromatic nature of p -benziheptaphyrins with inversion of one of the thiophene ring. The X-ray structure obtained for one of the p -benziheptaphyrins showed a planar conformation with alignment of one of the thiophene ring away from the macrocyclic inner core but maintained its coplanarity with the mean plane and supported the aromatic nature of the macrocycle. The absorption spectra of m -benziheptaphyrins resembled with the nonaromatic systems and showed two intense bands at 445 nm, 555 nm and a very broad band in the region of 600-1100 nm whereas the p -benziheptaphyrin showed three sharp intense bands at 534 nm, 585 nm and 832 nm due to their aromatic nature. The protonation of m -benziheptaphyrins and p -benziheptaphyrins resulted in significant bathochromic shifts in their absorption maxima and showed strong absorption in NIR region. The electrochemical studies indicated that m - & p -benziheptaphyrins undergo oxidations and reductions easily. DFT and TD-DFT studies were in agreement with the experimental observations.

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.

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.

Reversible Redox System of 2-Oxypyritriphyrin(1.2.1) Accompanying Interconversion between 3-Pyridone and 3-Hydroxypyridine Units

To develop a system in which a π-conjugation circuit switched by a redox reaction between 3-pyridone and 3-hydroxypyridine, a ring-contracted analog of oxypyriporphyrin, 2-oxypyritriphyrin(1.2.1) was synthesized for the first time. 2-Oxypyritriphyrin(1.2.1) contains a 14π aromatic conjugation circuit with the keto-form of the 3-oxypyridine ring. When 2-oxypyritriphyrin was treated with NaBH₄ , not only the 3-oxypyridine group, but also the meso-carbons were also reduced to give a colorless porphyrinogen analog. The reduced compound could be oxidized again to provide 2-oxypyritripyhrin in a reversible manner.

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.

Synthesis of Nonaromatic and Aromatic Dithia Benzisapphyrins

A series of [24π] dithia meta-benzisapphyrins and [22π] dithia para-benzisapphyrins were synthesized by 3 + 2 condensation of appropriate benzitripyrrane with bithiophene diol under mild acid catalyzed conditions. The dithia m-benzisapphyrins and dithia p-benzisapphyrins were thoroughly characterized by HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, absorption, and electrochemical techniques. Our studies showed that dithia m-benzisapphyrins are nonaromatic, whereas the dithia p-benzisapphyrins are aromatic in nature. Thus, we demonstrated here that the dithiabenzisapphyrins can be made aromatic by replacing the m-phenylene moiety of the benzisapphyrin macrocycle with a p-phenylene unit. Furthermore, the studies also indicated that the aromaticity of the dithia p-benzisapphyrins was relatively more compared to the reported heterosapphyrins. The structural and spectral characteristics including aromaticity of the m-benzisapphyrins and p-benzisapphyrins were also discussed with the help of DFT, NICS, and TD-DFT studies.

Alphabet soup within a porphyrinoid cavity: synthesis of heterocarbaporphyrins with CNNO, CNOO, CNSO and CNSeO Cores from an oxacarbatripyrrin

The first examples of porphyrin analogues with four different core atoms have been synthesized from an oxacarbatripyrrin intermediate.

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.

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.

Carbaporphyrins, porphyrin isomers and the legacy of Emanuel Vogel

Vogel discovered a large number of bridged annulene structures, including constitutional porphyrin isomers, heteroporphyrinoid species such as the tetraoxaporphyrin dication, corrole isomers and novel expanded porphyrinoid systems. In this review, the impact of Vogel's work on the author's research program is discussed. Carbaporphyrinoid systems with one or two carbocyclic rings replacing the usual pyrrole subunits have been synthesized and their diatropic characteristics can be related to the presence of 18π electron delocalization pathways within these macrocycles. The preparation of a dideazaporphyrin also provides strong support for the concept, espoused by Vogel, that porphyrins are examples of bridged annulenes. Ring contractions of azuliporphyrins to benzocarbaporphyrins with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of base have been proposed to involve a Cope rearrangement where a cycloheptatriene unit rearranges to give a norcaradiene-fused carbaporphyrinoid, followed elimination of tert-butyl alcohol, and Vogel's investigations into these types of valence tautomerization processes provides insights into these unusual transformations. In addition, a new class of porphyrin isomers has been synthesized and these porphyrin analogs extend the observations previously made for N-confused porphyrins and Vogel's constitutional isomers.

Modifying the porphyrin core — a chemist's jigsaw

Core modified porphyrinoids are porphyrin analogs which differ from these by containing at least one non-pyrrolic aromatic ring. The result of core modification is to produce systems with novel and unique physical and electronic properties. In this review, the various possible core modified porphyrins and their syntheses are summarized starting by porphyrinoids with one pyrrolic nitrogen replaced followed by porphyrin-related macrocycles with two or more pyrrole rings exchanged. In addition the spectroscopic properties, especially the UV-vis absorption profiles and proton NMR shifts emanating from their core modifications are discussed and summarized in a table.

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.

Stepwise conversion of two pyrrole moieties of octaethylporphyrin to pyridin-3-ones: synthesis, mass spectral, and photophysical properties of mono and bis(oxypyri)porphyrins

Free-base octaethylporphyrin (OEP) was converted in two steps (beta,beta'-dihydroxylation and oxidative diol cleavage with concomitant aldol condensation) to the corresponding oxypyriporphyrin. This conversion was previously described to be applicable only to the Ni(II) complex of OEP. Modified diol cleavage conditions made this reaction sequence now applicable to free-base OEP. The single-crystal structure of the resulting free-base oxypyriporphyrin was determined, proving its near-perfect planarity. The reaction sequence can also be applied to oxypyriporphyrin itself, generating the unprecedented bacteriochlorin-type bis(oxypyri)porphyrin as two separable isomers. The ground-state (UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies) and excited-state (transient triplet-triplet absorption, triplet lifetimes, and triplet EPR spectroscopy) photophysical properties of all chromophores are compared with those of OEP, chlorins, and oxochlorins. The pyridone-modified porphyrins possess unique spectroscopic signatures that distinguish them from regular porphyrins or chlorins. The presence of the pyridone moiety alters the ESI(+) collision-induced fragmentation properties of these oxypyriporphyrins only to a minor degree when compared with those of OEP or chlorins, confirming their stability.