Development of synthetic protocols for porphyrins and their analogs based on distorted structures — a SPP/JPP Young Investigator Award paper

Creation of novel [Formula: see text]-conjugated molecules is an important research topic. I describe in this account an approach to this aim that is based on the use of the distorted conformation of porphyrins. Planarization of distorted molecules enables the synthesis of heteroatom-containing porphyrin derivatives. Furthermore, dearomatization reaction proves effective to construct distorted conformations from planar [Formula: see text]-conjugated molecules under mild reaction conditions. According to this protocol, we have succeeded in the synthesis of heteroatom-containing curved-[Formula: see text] conjugated molecules that had never been achieved by conventional protocols. In particular, a nitrogen-embedded buckybowl is the first example of a buckybowl having a heteroatom in its central position, which exhibits unique properties due to the incorporation of the heteroatom in its curved [Formula: see text]-surface.

Synthesis of alkylthio substituted pyridoporphyrazines and their photophysicochemical properties

Phthalocyanine and their related compounds are utilized as various applications, such as photosensitizing agents for photodynamic therapy of cancer. In this study, zinc bis(thiodidecylbenzo)-bis(pyrido)porphyrazines, especially zinc bis(1,4-didecylthiobenzo)-bis(3,4-pyrido)porphyrazine and zinc bis(1,4-didecylthiobenzo)-bis(2,3-pyrido)porphyrazine were synthesized. Quaternation of the pyridine nitrogen in these provides an amphiphilic property. Photoexcited triplet lifetime of synthesized and quaternized zinc bis(1,4-didecylthiobenzo)-bis(3,4-pyrido)porphyrazine and zinc bis(1,4-didecylthiobenzo)-bis(2,3-pyrido)porphyrazine were reported using laser-flash photolysis and singlet oxygen quantum yields by the 1,3-diphenylisobenzofurne method.