General Synthesis of meso-Amidoporphyrins via Palladium-Catalyzed Amidation

Metal-catalyzed direct heteroarylation of C-H (meso) bonds in porphyrins: facile synthesis and photophysical properties of novel meso-heteroaromatic appended porphyrins

A simple and rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of heteroaromatic appended porphyrins using the Pd/Cu-catalyzed C-C coupling of meso-bromoporphyrins with various five- and six-membered heteroaromatic azoles has been successfully developed. The prepared heteroaromatic porphyrins 7a-lNi were found to exhibit slightly red-shifted (∼5-10 nm) Soret and Q bands. The developed reaction conditions are useful for the preparation of diversely substituted heteroaromatic porphyrins (A₃B- and A₂B₂-types).

Synthesis and Functionalization of Porphyrins through Organometallic Methodologies

This review focuses on the postfunctionalization of porphyrins and related compounds through catalytic and stoichiometric organometallic methodologies. The employment of organometallic reactions has become common in porphyrin synthesis. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are now standard techniques for constructing carbon-carbon bonds in porphyrin synthesis. In addition, iridium- or palladium-catalyzed direct C-H functionalization of porphyrins is emerging as an efficient way to install various substituents onto porphyrins. Furthermore, the copper-mediated Huisgen cycloaddition reaction has become a frequent strategy to incorporate porphyrin units into functional molecules. The use of these organometallic techniques, along with the traditional porphyrin synthesis, now allows chemists to construct a wide range of highly elaborated and complex porphyrin architectures.

Applications of Palladium-Catalyzed C-N Cross-Coupling Reactions

Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions that form C–N bonds have become useful methods to synthesize anilines and aniline derivatives, an important class of compounds throughout chemical research. A key factor in the widespread adoption of these methods has been the continued development of reliable and versatile catalysts that function under operationally simple, user-friendly conditions. This review provides an overview of Pd-catalyzed N-arylation reactions found in both basic and applied chemical research from 2008 to the present. Selected examples of C–N cross-coupling reactions between nine classes of nitrogen-based coupling partners and (pseudo)aryl halides are described for the synthesis of heterocycles, medicinally relevant compounds, natural products, organic materials, and catalysts.

Syntheses and Functionalizations of Porphyrin Macrocycles

Porphyrin macrocycles have been the subject of intense study in the last century because they are widely distributed in nature, usually as metal complexes of either iron or magnesium. As such, they serve as the prosthetic groups in a wide variety of primary metabolites, such as hemoglobins, myoglobins, cytochromes, catalases, peroxidases, chlorophylls, and bacteriochlorophylls; these compounds have multiple applications in materials science, biology and medicine. This article describes current methodology for preparation of simple, symmetrical model porphyrins, as well as more complex protocols for preparation of unsymmetrically substituted porphyrin macrocycles similar to those found in nature. The basic chemical reactivity of porphyrins and metalloporphyrin is also described, including electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions, oxidations, reductions, and metal-mediated cross-coupling reactions. Using the synthetic approaches and reactivity profiles presented, eventually almost any substituted porphyrin system can be prepared for applications in a variety of areas, including in catalysis, electron transport, model biological systems and therapeutics.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of original porphyrin precursors and derivatives

Importance of heme in African trypanosomes, Leishmania sp. and Plasmodium sp. metabolisms justifies considering the potential of porphyrins and their precursors and derivatives as potential antiparasitic agents by interfering with heme metabolism. Consequently, twenty-four porphyrin precursors and derivatives were evaluated against Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium sp. The best active compound against Trypanosoma brucei brucei was a new porphyrin derivative; compound 4i, with a MEC value of 6.25 μM justifying further in vivo evaluation. Whereas these compounds were not active against intramacrophage amastigotes of L. donovani, another new porphyrin derivative, compound 4f was active in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum at 20 nM and a slight delay of mice survival was observed on the Plasmodium berghei/Swiss mice model at 50 μmol/kg/day × 4. Pharmacomodulations should be further developed relying on a better knowledge on the porphyrin behaviour into the parasites comparatively to host cells.

Synthetic transformations of porphyrins – Advances 2004-2007

Recent developments in the synthesis and transformation of porphyrins and their derivatives are presented. In connection with the Fifth International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (ICPP-5) a survey of current method developments and reactivity studies is made. The review focuses on synthetic advances in porphyrin chemistry. A brief survey of important developments covers selectively the literature from 2004 to late 2007.

Neutral metallated and meso-substituted porphyrins as antimicrobial agents against gram-positive pathogens

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterial pathogen that causes severe infections among humans. The increasing emergence of antibiotic resistance necessitates the development of new strategies to combat the spread of disease. One approach is photodynamic inactivation using porphyrin photosensitizers, which generate superoxide and other radicals in the presence of light, causing cell death via the oxidation of proteins and lipids. In this study, we analyzed a novel library of meso-substituted and metallated porphyrins for activity against multidrug-resistant S. aureus. From a library of 251 compounds, 51 showed antimicrobial activity, in three discrete classes of activity: those that functioned only in light, those that had toxicity only in darkness, and those that displayed activity regardless of illumination. We further demonstrated the broad-spectrum activity of these compounds against a variety of pathogens, including Bacillus anthracis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) analyses of lead compounds (XPZ-263 and XPZ-271) revealed strong activity and killing towards methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. An analysis of mutation frequencies revealed low incidences of resistance to lead compounds by E. coli and MRSA. Finally, an exploration of the underlying mechanism of action suggests that these compounds do not depend solely upon light-induced radical generation for toxicity, highlighting their potential for clinical applications.

Synthesis and Aggregation Behavior ofmeso-Sulfinylporphyrins: Evaluation of S-Chirality Effects on the Self-Organization to S–Oxo-Tethered Cofacial Porphyrin Dimers

The synthesis and aggregation behavior of meso-sulfinylporphyrins are described. The copper-catalyzed C-S cross-coupling reaction of a meso-iodoporphyrin with benzenethiol and n-octanethiol has proved to be an efficient method for the synthesis of meso-sulfanylporphyrins, which are oxygenated by m-chloroperbenzoic acid to produce the corresponding meso-sulfinylporphyrins. Optically active zinc meso-sulfinylporphyrins were successfully isolated by means of optical resolution of the racemates on a chiral HPLC column. Zinc sulfinylporphyrins readily undergo self-organization through S-oxo-zinc coordination to form cofacial porphyrin dimers in solution, in which the hetero- and homodimers are present as a diastereomeric mixture. The aggregation modes of the S-oxo-tethered porphyrin dimers were fully characterized by 1H NMR, IR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy as well as DFT calculations on their model compounds, thus revealing that the self-aggregation behavior depends on the combination of S chirality. The absolute configurations at the sulfur center can be determined by the exciton-coupled CD method. The observed self-association constant for the S-oxo-tethered dimerization of (S)-phenylsulfinylporphyrin in toluene is larger than that in dichloromethane, which reflects the difference in dipole moments between the homodimer and the monomer. In cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, the first oxidation process of the cofacial dimers is split into two reversible steps, which indicates that the initially produced pi radical cations are delocalized efficiently between the two porphyrin rings. The present findings demonstrate the potential utility of meso-sulfinyl groups as promising ligands for investigating the effects of peripheral chirality on the structures and optical and electrochemical properties of metal-assisted porphyrin self-assemblies.

Regioselective 15-bromination and functionalization of a stable synthetic bacteriochlorin

5-Methoxy-8,8,18,18-tetramethyl-2,12-di-p-tolylbacteriochlorin (MeO-BC) undergoes regioselective electrophilic bromination with NBS to give the 15-bromo analogue (MeO-BC-Br15) in 85% yield. By contrast, the bacteriochlorin lacking the 5-methoxy group (8,8,18,18-tetramethyl-2,12-di-p-tolylbacteriochlorin, H-BC) gives a mixture of two monobromo- and two dibromobacteriochlorins. Deuterium exchange of both bacteriochlorins (H-BC and MeO-BC) in acidic media (TFA-d) occurs preferentially at the beta-pyrrole positions (3, 13) > unhindered meso-positions (5, 15 for H-BC; 15 for MeO-BC) > hindered meso-positions (10, 20). The 15-bromo-5-methoxybacteriochlorin MeO-BC-Br15 was subjected to three types of Pd-mediated coupling reactions (Suzuki, Sonogashira, Hartwig-Buchwald) to give six bacteriochlorins bearing functional groups at the 15-position (49% to 85% yield). The groups include 4-(tert-butoxycarbonylmethoxy)phenyl, 4-pyridyl, 3,5-diformylphenyl, phenylethynyl, TIPS-ethynyl, and N-benzamido. The presence of the 15-ethynyl moiety shifts the position of the long-wavelength Qy band from 732 nm to approximately 753 nm. The ability to introduce a range of groups at a specific site enables synthetic bacteriochlorins to be tailored for a variety of applications.

Asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrenes catalyzed by metal complexes of D2-symmetrical chiral porphyrin: superiority of cobalt over iron

The cobalt(II) complex of D2-symmetric chiral porphyrin [Co(1)] is an effective catalyst for highly diastereoselective and enantioselective cyclopropanation of a broad range of styrene derivatives under mild conditions. Dimerization of diazo compounds, a common side reaction in metal-mediated carbene transfer processes, is minimized in a cobalt porphyrin-based system, obviating the need to employ excess substrates and slow addition of diazo compounds. The high catalytic activity and selectivity of [Co(1)] evidently resulted from the appropriate combination of the cobalt ion and the chiral porphyrin 1 as the use of iron(III) complex of the same ligand [Fe(1)Cl] afforded the desired cyclopropane products in low yields and poor enantioselectivity.

Synthesis of Novel N-Linked Porphyrin−Phthalocyanine Dyads

[structure: see text] Two types of covalently NH-linked porphyrin-phthalocyanine dyads, connected either through the meso phenyl group or the beta-pyrrolic position of the porphyrin, have been synthesized following statistical condensation methodologies for phthalocyanine preparation and palladium-catalyzed amination methods. Photophysical studies have revealed that energy transfer from the porphyrin to the phthalocyanine prevails regardless of linkage.

Synthesis, Structures, and Properties ofmeso-Phosphorylporphyrins: Self-Organization through P–Oxo–Zinc Coordination

The synthesis, structures, and optical and electrochemical properties of meso-phosphorylporphyrins are described. The copper-catalyzed carbon-phosphorus cross-coupling reaction of a meso-iodoporphyrin with di-n-butyl phosphite and diphenylphosphane oxide has proved to be an efficient and general method for the synthesis of meso-phosphorylporphyrins. Zinc phosphorylporphyrins thus obtained readily undergo self-organization through P-oxo-Zn coordination to form noncovalently linked, cofacial porphyrin dimers or linear oligomers, which have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analyses. In toluene, CH(2)Cl(2), and CHCl(3), the zinc phosphorylporphyrins exist mostly as dimers or monomers, depending on their concentrations, the temperature, and the presence of additives. The self-association constants for dimerization in toluene have been determined by UV/Vis absorption titration measurements. The meso-diphenylphosphorylporphyrin dimer displays excitonic coupling of the Soret band with a splitting energy of 940 cm(-1). Fluorescence lifetimes of the zinc phosphorylporphyrins have been found to be affected only slightly by the concentration of the solution, and by the addition of triphenylphosphane oxide, suggesting that the effect of dimerization on their photodynamics in the S(1) state is negligible. On the other hand, the effect of dimerization is clearly reflected in their electrochemical oxidation processes, as the initially produced radical cations are efficiently delocalized over the two porphyrin rings. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of meso-phosphorylporphyrins as new models for the special pair in photosynthesis and as new building blocks for porphyrin-based supramolecular materials.

New palladium catalysed reactions of bromoporphyrins: synthesis and crystal structures of nickel(ii) complexes of primary 5-aminoporphyrin, 5,5′-bis(porphyrinyl) secondary amine, and 5-hydroxyporphyrin

Primary aminoporphyrin, secondary bis(porphyrinyl)amine and hydroxyporphyrin complexes have been isolated and characterised both spectroscopically and crystallographically from the reaction of 5-bromo-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrinatonickel(ii) with hydrazine under palladium catalysis.

Bromoporphyrins as versatile synthons for modular construction of chiral porphyrins: cobalt-catalyzed highly enantioselective and diastereoselective cyclopropanation

5,10-Bis(2',6'-dibromophenyl)porphyrins bearing various substituents at the 10 and 20 positions were demonstrated to be versatile synthons for modular construction of chiral porphyrins via palladium-catalyzed amidation reactions with chiral amides. The quadruple carbon-nitrogen bond formation reactions were accomplished in high yields with different chiral amide building blocks under mild conditions, forming a family of D2-symmetric chiral porphyrins. Cobalt(II) complexes of these chiral porphyrins were prepared in high yields and shown to be active catalysts for highly enantioselective and diastereoselective cyclopropanation under a practical one-pot protocol (alkenes as limiting reagents and no slow addition of diazo reagents).

Synthesis of meso-Arylsulfanyl- and Alkylsulfanyl-Substituted Porphyrins via Palladium-Mediated C−S Bond Formation

A family of new meso-arylsulfanyl- and alkylsulfanyl-substituted porphyrins were efficiently synthesized from direct reactions of meso-brominated porphyrins with thiols via palladium-mediated C-S bond formation. The catalytic method can be performed under mild conditions with both mono- and bis-substituted meso-bromoporphyrins as well as their zinc complexes and is suitable for different types of thiols. With the use of selenols, meso-seleno-substituted porphyrins can also be prepared similarly.