Structurally homologous beta- and meso-alkynyl amidinium porphyrins

Alkynylamidinium groups have been introduced at the beta and meso positions of a nickel(II) porphyrin (PNi(II)) framework. The modification permits the distance between the amidinium-amidine acid-base group and porphyrin to be increased while effectively maintaining pi conjugation between the porphyrin macrocycle and the acid-base functionality. Use of an ethynyl spacer as a linker (i) extends the amidinium functionality away from the sterically bulky mesityl groups of the porphyrin, allowing it to be nearly planar with respect to the porphyrin ring, and (ii) draws the pi-orbital character of the porphyrin out toward the amidinium functionality, thereby engendering sensitivity of the electronic properties of the porphyrin macrocycle to the protonation state of the amidinium. The barrier for rotation of the amidinium group, as calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), is approximately 8.5 kT (5 kcal/mol) for both porphyrins. Analysis of UV-visible absorption profiles for the beta- and meso-alkynylamidinium PNi(II) upon deprotonation enables accurate determination of the amidinium acidity constants for the ground state (pK(a)(beta) = 7.03 +/- 0.1, pK(a)(meso) = 7.74 +/- 0.1 in CH(3)CN) and excited state (pK(a)*(beta) = 6.89 +/- 0.1, pK(a)*(meso) = 8.37 +/- 0.1 in CH(3)CN) porphyrins. Whereas pK(a)* < pK(a) for the beta-alkynylamidinium porphyrin, pK(a)* > pK(a) for the meso-alkynylamidinium porphyrin, indicating that beta-alkynylamidinium PNi(II) is a photoacid and meso-alkynylamidinium PNi(II) is a photobase. These divergent behaviors are supported by analysis of the frontier molecular orbitals of the homologous pair with TDDFT.     

Intramolecular excimer formation and photoinduced electron-transfer process in bis-1,8-naphthalimide dyads depending on the linker length

The photophysical properties of bis-1,8-naphthalimide (NI-L-NI) dyads with different linkers ( L = -C 3H 6-, -C 4H 8-, -C 6H 12-, -C 8H 16-, and -C 9H 18-) as well as the reference NI derivative (NI-C 7H 15) were investigated in CH 3CN and H 2O/CH 3CN (v/v = 1:9). The normal fluorescence peak of (1)NI*-L-NI was observed at 379 nm together with a broad emission at longer wavelength both in aprotic CH 3CN and in H 2O/CH 3CN, which is assigned to an excimer, (1)(NI-L-NI)*. The excimer emission maximum was blue-shifted with increasing length of the linker. The photoinduced electron-transfer process of NI-L-NI was also investigated in both solvents by using nanosecond-laser flash photolysis. The T 1-T n absorption band for (3)NI*-L-NI was observed around 470 nm in both solvents. In H 2O/CH 3CN, NI-L-NI is solvated with H 2O in the ground state to exist as solvated NI-L-NI. In the excited triplet state, the NI radical anion (NI (*-)) was generated via the intramolecular quenching of (3)NI*-L-NI by another NI moiety. The solvated NI (*-)-L-NI may undergo the proton abstraction process to give NI(H) (*)-L-NI, which can be confirmed by the transient absorption band at 410 nm. This band was not observed in pure aprotic CH 3CN.     

Acid-base equilibria in 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)chlorin: Role of conformational flexibility

The acid-base equilibria in 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)chlorin were studied in aqueous solution and compared with the respective data for the corresponding porphyrin. The reduction of the pyrrole ring in the tetrapyrrolic macrocycle noticeably influences both free base/monoprotonated and mono-/diprotonated species equilibria. In strong acidic solutions protonation of 4-sulfonatophenyl groups takes place in addition to protonation of the macrocycle core. The photophysical properties of all ionic forms are influenced by an enhanced rate of internal S1 --> S0 conversion, leading to about 50% and 90% deactivation through this channel for the free base and diprotonated species, respectively. The enhancement of the rate of the radiationless transitions is explained by an increased conformational flexibility of the chlorin macrocycle with respect to that of a porphyrin. Structural volume change measurements with laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy support this explanation. The contraction upon triplet state formation of the free base is about one-half of that measured for the corresponding porphyrin. This contraction should be due to intramolecular structural rearrangements of the macrocycle to adopt a minimum energy conformation in case of the chlorin. On the contrary, for the more rigid porphyrin macrocycle the interactions of the molecule with the solvent environment play a more important role. The diprotonated forms of both porphyrin and chlorin show a high radiationless S1 --> S0 conversion rate and seem to have a similar conformational flexibility. In agreement with previous calculations, the conformational flexibility of the diprotonated forms appears to be higher than that of the free base molecule.     

Spectral observation of conversion between ionized vs. non-ionized proton-coupled electron transfer interfaces

Two-point hydrogen bonding between acid and base functionalities provides a convenient method for the modular assembly of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) networks, especially when that interface comprises an amidinium and two-point anionic partner; a system is presented that permits the proton configuration within the interface to be determined when pK(a) values of the conjugate acids are known.     

Intermolecular photoinduced electron-transfer of 1,8-naphthalimides in protic polar solvents

The intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) processes of 1,8-naphthalimide (NI) derivatives including NI-linker-phenothiazine dyads were investigated in a protic H(2)O/CH(3)CN (v/v=1:1) solvent using ns-laser flash photolysis with 355 nm-laser excitation. NI derivatives are surrounded by H(2)O in the ground state in H(2)O/CH(3)CN. The T(1)-T(n) absorption band of (3)NI* was observed at around 470 nm. The transient absorption band at around 410 nm increased concomitantly with the decay of (3)NI* in H(2)O/CH(3)CN. This implies that hydrated NI anion radical (NI*(-)) is primarily generated via the quenching of (3)NI* by NI at the diffusion control rate. This intermolecular PET did not occur in aprotic CH(3)CN. The formation and decay times of NI*(-) showed strong dependence on the concentration of NI. Then, we suggest that NI*(-) could undergo proton abstraction to give ketyl radical species of NI [NI(H)*] in H(2)O/CH(3)CN.     

The n.m.r. spectra of porphyrins. 13—A ring current model for the porphyrin and chlorin (7,8-dihydroporphyrin) rings

The equivalent dipole model of the ring current shift in benzene is shown to be equivalent to that of the well-known two current loop calculation. A network model of the ring current effect in the porphyrin system is described, using the double–dipole approximation, to give a calculation of the ring current shifts in the porphyrin system; this agrees with the observed shifts of protons both in the ring-plane and above it. A simple modification of the model enables treatment of ring current shifts in the chlorin ring. These models may be used to provide, very simply, good estimates of the ring current shifts of the porphyrin and chlorin rings at points above and outside the current loops; the agreement is sufficiently good to allow assignments of peripheral substituents to be made, and to provide information on their orientation. The model is consistent with a peripheral ring current loop in both the free-base porphyrins and their metal complexes. The relationship of these results to calculations in polycyclic aromatics and to protonation shifts in porphyrins is discussed.     

Structural and pH dependence of excited state PCET reactions involving reductive quenching of the MLCT excited state of [RuII(bpy)2(bpz)]2+ by hydroquinones

The proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction between the bpz-based photoexcited (3)MLCT state of [Ru(II)(bpy)(2)(bpz)](2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, bpz = 2,2'-bipyrazine) and a series of substituted hydroquinones (H(2)Q) has been studied by transient absorption (TA) and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy at X-band. When the reaction is carried out in a CH(3)CN/H(2)O mixed solvent system with unsubstituted hydroquinone, the neutral semiquinone radical (4a) and its conjugate base, the semiquinone radical anion (4b), are both observed. Variation of the acid strength in the solvent mixture allows the acid/base dependence of the PCET reaction to be investigated. In solutions with very low acid concentrations, TREPR spectra exclusively derived from radical anion 4b are observed, while at very high acid concentrations, the spectrum is assigned to the protonated structure 4a. At intermediate acid concentrations, either a superposition of spectra is observed (slow exchange between 4a and 4b) or substantial broadening in the TREPR spectrum is observed (fast exchange between 4a and 4b). Variation of substituents on the H(2)Q ring substantially alter this acid/base dependence and provide a means to investigate electronic effects on both the ET and PT components of the PCET process. The TA results suggest a change in mechanism from PCET to direct ET quenching in strongly basic solutions and with electron withdrawing groups on the H(2)Q ring system. Changing the ligand on the Ru complex also alters the acid/base dependence of the TREPR spectra through a series of complex equilibria between protonated and deprotonated hydroquinone radicals and anions. The relative intensities of the signals from radical 4a versus 4b can be rationalized quantitatively in terms of these equilibria and the relevant pK(a) values. An observed equilibrium deuterium isotope effect supports the conclusion that the post-PCET HQ(?)/Q(?-) equilibrium is the most important in determining the 4a/4b ratio at early delay times.     

J-aggregation of a sulfonated amphiphilic porphyrin at the air-water interface as a function of pH

π-A isotherms, ellipsometric measurements, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) and reflection spectroscopy have been utilized to characterize the films of an amphiphilic porphyrin ((OD)(3)TPPS(3)) at the air-water interface as a function of pH. This porphyrin forms stable mono-molecular layers at such interfaces, and exhibits different J-aggregation as a function of pH. The J-aggregation of (OD)(3)TPPS(3) on neutral pH subphases is notable considering that the nitrogen atoms at the central macrocycle have a pK(a)≈4.9. The type of aggregates at neutral pH is like those detected at pH<4, because the central porphyrin ring is already protonated. However at basic pH the aggregation happens without protonation of the central ring but can be instead controlled by application of the surface pressure. At the air-water interface, (OD)(3)TPPS(3) shows two bands, a red component and a blue component, which have characteristics of non-degenerate linear oscillators being perpendicularly polarized between each other. The spectral behavior observed on subphases at different pHs is qualitatively interpreted by means of exciton coupling theory, assuming that the degenerate transitions attributed to the Soret band are split. Additionally, highly oriented molecular films of these J-aggregates were deposited onto transparent quartz slides.     

Proton-induced luminescence of mono- and dinuclear rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes containing 4-pyridinealdazine

New mono- and dinuclear rhenium(I) tricarbonyls, of formulas [Re(bpy)(CO)3(PCA)]+ (1), [(bpy)(CO)3Re(I)(PCA)Re(I)(CO)3(bpy)]2+ (2), and [(bpy)(CO)3Re(I)(PCA)Ru(II)(NH3)5]3+ (3) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, PCA = 4-pyridinecarboxaldehydeazine), have been synthesized as PF6- salts and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photophysical techniques. These species do not emit at room temperature in CH(3)CN; however, in aqueous solutions, a decrease in pH induces luminescence in all of them, due to protonation of one of the N atoms of the -C=N-N=C- chain of PCA, as indicated by the pKa values of the ground states, obtained by absorption measurements, which are ca. 3 orders of magnitude lower than the pKa value of the pyridine N of PCA in complex 1. On the other hand, the values of pKa* of the excited states, obtained by emission measurements, of complexes 1 and 2 are similar (pKa* = 2.7 +/- 0.1 at I = 0.1 M) and higher than those of the corresponding ground states. At low values of pH, chemical decomposition takes place rapidly in complex 3, but not in 1 and 2, supporting the possible use of these latter species as luminescent sensors of pH. The heterodinuclear complex, of formula [(bpy)(CO)3Re(I)(PCA)Ru(III)(NH3)5]4+, was obtained by bromine oxidation of the [Re(I), Ru(II)] precursor in CH3CN solution; from spectral and electrochemical measurements, the recombination charge-transfer reaction [Re(II), Ru(II) ] --> [Re(I), Ru(III)], which occurs after photoexcitation, is predicted to lie in the Marcus inverted region.     

Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations on superoxide reductase: role of the axial thiolate in reactivity

Superoxide reductase (SOR) is a non-heme iron enzyme that reduces superoxide to peroxide at a diffusion-controlled rate. Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is used to investigate the ground-state electronic structure of the resting high-spin and CN- bound low-spin FeIII forms of the 1Fe SOR from Pyrococcus furiosus. A computational model with constrained imidazole rings (necessary for reproducing spin states), H-bonding interaction to the thiolate (necessary for reproducing Fe-S bond covalency of the high-spin and low-spin forms), and H-bonding to the exchangeable axial ligand (necessary to reproduce the ground state of the low-spin form) was developed and then used to investigate the enzymatic reaction mechanism. Reaction of the resting ferrous site with superoxide and protonation leading to a high-spin FeIII-OOH species and its subsequent protonation resulting in H2O2 release is calculated to be the most energetically favorable reaction pathway. Our results suggest that the thiolate acts as a covalent anionic ligand. Replacing the thiolate with a neutral noncovalent ligand makes protonation very endothermic and greatly raises the reduction potential. The covalent nature of the thiolate weakens the FeIII bond to the proximal oxygen of this hydroperoxo species, which raises its pKa by an additional 5 log units relative to the pKa of a primarily anionic ligand, facilitating its protonation. A comparison with cytochrome P450 indicates that the stronger equatorial ligand field from the porphyrin results in a low-spin FeIII-OOH species that would not be capable of efficient H2O2 release due to a spin-crossing barrier associated with formation of a high-spin 5C FeIII product. Additionally, the presence of the dianionic porphyrin pi ring in cytochrome P450 allows O-O heterolysis, forming an FeIV-oxo porphyrin radical species, which is calculated to be extremely unfavorable for the non-heme SOR ligand environment. Finally, the 5C FeIII site that results from the product release at the end of the O2- reduction cycle is calculated to be capable of reacting with a second O2-, resulting in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. However, in contrast to FeSOD, the 5C FeIII site of SOR, which is more positively charged, is calculated to have a high affinity for binding a sixth anionic ligand, which would inhibit its SOD activity.     

The NMR spectra of porphyrins: 22—Ring current effects in chlorins versus porphyrins

The proton NMR spectra of tetraphenylporphyrin, octaethylporphyrin and the analogous chlorins (7,8-dihydroporphyrins) are presented, and the chemical shift changes on chlorin formation are interpreted using a ring current model. In these compounds a general 10% reduction in the ring current occurs upon chlorin formation. Similar comparison of the chemical shifts of the corresponding dications and also of the protonated form of 2-vinylphylloerythrin methyl ester with the corresponding chlorin, methyl pyropheophorbide-a, shows that chlorin formation now has a much larger effect on the ring current, this reflecting the increased steric effects within the macrocycle which occur upon protonation. Variable temperature studies on the porphyrins and chlorins examined show clearly the effect of NH exchange processes and, in particular, novel intermolecular exchange processes with trifluoroacetic acid in the protonated species are recorded.     

Time-Resolved Spectroscopic Study on Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Processes in Zn(II)porphyrin–Zn(II)chlorin–Fullerene Triad

Femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption studies have been performed to investigate the photoinduced energy and electron-transfer processes in Zn(II )porphyrin–Zn(II )chlorin–fullerene triad in which energy and oxidation potential gradients are directed along the donor–acceptor-linked arrays. Fast energy transfer (≈450 fs) from photoexcited Zn(II )porphyrin to Zn(II )chlorin was observed upon selective photoexcitation of Zn(II )porphyrin unit in the triad. In a nonpolar solvent such as toluene, the energy transfer from the excited singlet state of Zn(II )chlorin to fullerene occurs and is followed by the formation of an intermediate state with a time constant of nanoseconds, which was attributed to the intramolecular exciplex between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene. In benzonitrile, on the other hand, the photoexcitation of the triad results in the fast electron transfer (<1 ps) from photoexcited Zn(II )chlorin to fullerene. The generated charge-separated species recombine with a time constant of ≈12 ps. The relatively fast charge separation and charge recombination rates imply that the strong electronic coupling between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene moieties is probably induced by the folded conformation between Zn(II )chlorin and fullerene moieties which enhances direct through-space interaction between the proximately contacted π systems.     

pH-dependent modification of lipophilicity of porphyrin-type photosensitizers

Structural modifications of photosensitizers (changes in protonation, ionic state and aggregation state) under different environmental conditions should be precisely determined to understand the interaction of the photosensitizers with biological systems. In the present study partition coefficients of hematoporphyrin IX (HpIX), disulfonated meso-tetraphenylporphine, meso-tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphine (mTHPP) and meso-tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin in the 1-octanol-phosphate buffer system were determined in the pH region 4.0-8.0. Only the partition coefficients of HpIX and mTHPP were found to be pH dependent. Computer processing of fluorimetric titration data was applied to estimate pKa values of the imino nitrogens of mTHPP. Monoprotonated species of mTHPP seem to be unstable or nonexistent. The possibility that both imino nitrogens of this dye are protonated according to a common pKa is proposed. The pKa value of the imino nitrogens of mTHPP was found to be 2.99 +/- 0.04 after the application of a model taking aggregation of the drug into account. The contributions of various aqueous ionic species of mTHPP as functions of pH were calculated and compared with partition coefficients.     

Intramolecular exciplex and intermolecular excimer formation of 1,8-naphthalimide-linker-phenothiazine dyads

Steady-state fluorescence spectra were measured for 1,8-naphthahlimide-linker-phenothiazine dyads (NI-L-PTZ, where L = octamethylenyl ((CH2)8) and 3,6,9-trioxaundecyl ((CH2CH2O)3C2H4)), NI-C8-PTZ and NI-O-PTZ, as well as the NI derivatives substituted on the nitrogen atom with various linker groups without PTZ as the reference NI molecule in n-hexane. Normal fluorescence peaks were observed at 367-369 nm in all NI molecules together with a broader emission around 470 nm, which is assigned to the excimer emission between the NI in the singlet excited state (1NI*) and the NI moiety of another NI molecule (1[NI/NI]*). In addition, a broad peak around 600 nm was observed only for NI-L-PTZ, which is assigned to an intramolecular exciplex emission between donor (PTZ) and acceptor (NI) moieties in the excited singlet state, 1[NI-L-NI]*. The formation of an intramolecular exciplex corresponds to the existence of a conformer with a weak face-to-face interaction between the NI and PTZ moieties in the excited state because of the long and flexible linkers. The excited-state dynamics of the NI molecules in n-hexane were established by means of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Hybrid bilayer membrane: a platform to study the role of proton flux on the efficiency of oxygen reduction by a molecular electrocatalyst

In this report, we present a novel platform to study proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) by controlling the proton flux using an electrode-supported hybrid bilayer membrane (HBM). Oxygen reduction by an iron porphyrin was used as a model PCET reaction. The proton flux was controlled by incorporating an aliphatic proton carrier, decanoic acid, into the lipid layer of the HBM. Using this system, we observed a different catalytic behavior than obtained by simply changing the pH of the solution in the absence of an HBM.     

First macrocycle based on chlorin and isosteviol structural elements

Acylation by suberic acid chloride of chlorin with two oximated isosteviol groups on its periphery produced for the first time a macrocyclic system containing a porphyrin ring and two tetracyclic ent-beyerane frameworks.     

Highly selective synthesis of the ring-B reduced chlorins by ferric chloride-mediated oxidation of bacteriochlorins: effects of the fused imide vs isocyclic ring on photophysical and electrochemical properties

The oxidation of bacteriopyropheophorbide with ferric chloride hexahydrate or its anhydrous form produced the ring-D oxidized (ring-B reduced) chlorin in >95% yield. Replacing the five-member isocyclic ring in bacteriopyropheophorbide- a with a fused six-member N-butylimide ring system made no difference in regioselective oxidation, and the corresponding ring-B reduced chlorin was isolated in almost quantitative yield. When the oxidant was replaced by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, which is frequently used at the oxidizing stage of the porphyrin synthesis, the ring-B oxidized (ring-D reduced) chlorins were obtained. With both ring-B reduced and ring-D reduced chlorins in hand, their photophysical and electrochemical properties were examined and compared for the first time. The ring-B reduced chlorine 20, with a fused six-member N-butylimide ring, exhibits the most red-shifted absorption band (at lambda(max) = 746 nm), the lowest fluorescence quantum yield (4.5%), and the largest quantum yield of singlet oxygen formation (67%) among the reduced ring-B and ring-D chlorins investigated in this study. Measurements of the one-electron oxidation and reduction potentials show that compound 20 is also the easiest to oxidize among the examined compounds and the third easiest to reduce. In addition, the 1.62 eV HOMO-LUMO gap of 20 is the smallest of the examined compounds, and this agrees with values calculated using the DFT method. Spectroelectrochemical measurements afforded UV-visible absorption spectra for both the radical cations and radical anions of the examined chlorins. The ring-B reduced compound 20, with a fused six-member N-butylimide ring, is regarded as the most promising candidate in this study for photodynamic therapy because it has the longest wavelength absorption and the largest quantum yield of singlet oxygen formation among the compounds investigated.     

Interfacial surface properties of thiol-protected gold nanoparticles: a molecular probe EPR approach

We present a molecular probe technique for accessing interfacial surface electrostatics of ligand-protected gold nanoparticles. A series of ligands with variable length of the hydrocarbon bridge between the anchoring sulfur and the reporting pH-sensitive nitroxide is described. The protonation state of this probe is directly observed by EPR spectroscopy. For tiopronin-protected Au nanoparticles, we observed an increase in pKa of up to ca. 1.1 pH units that was affected by the position of the reporter moiety with respect to the monolayer interface.     

Pendant bases as proton relays in iron hydride and dihydrogen complexes

The complex trans-[HFe(PNP)(dmpm)(CH(3)CN)]BPh(4), 3, (where PNP is Et(2)PCH(2)N(CH(3))CH(2)PEt(2) and dmpm is Me(2)PCH(2)PMe(2)) can be successively protonated in two steps using increasingly strong acids. Protonation with 1 equiv of p-cyanoanilinium tetrafluoroborate in acetone-d(6) at -80 degrees C results in ligand protonation and the formation of endo (4a) and exo (4b) isomers of trans-[HFe(PNHP)(dmpm)(CH(3)CN)](BPh(4))(2). The endo isomer undergoes rapid intramolecular proton/hydride exchange with an activation barrier of 12 kcal/mol. The exo isomer does not exchange. Studies of the reaction of 3 with a weaker acid (anisidinium tetrafluoroborate) in acetonitrile indicate that a rapid intermolecular proton exchange interconverts isomers 4a and 4b, and a pK(a) value of 12 was determined for these two isomers. Protonation of 3 with 2 equiv of triflic acid results in the protonation of both the PNP ligand and the metal hydride to form the dihydrogen complex [(H(2))Fe(PNHP)(dmpm)(CH(3)CN)](3+), 11. Studies of related complexes [HFe(PNP)(dmpm)(CO)](+) (12) and [HFe(depp)(dmpm)(CH(3)CN)](+) (10) (where depp is bis(diethylphosphino)propane) confirm the important roles of the pendant base and the ligand trans to the hydride ligand in the rapid intra- and intermolecular hydride/proton exchange reactions observed for 4. Features required for an effective proton relay and their potential relevance to the iron-only hydrogenase enzymes are discussed.     

Synthesis of meso-substituted chlorins via tetrahydrobilene-a intermediates.

Chlorin building blocks incorporating a geminal dimethyl group in the reduced ring and synthetic handles in specific patterns at the perimeter of the macrocycle are expected to have utility in biomimetic and materials chemistry. A prior route employed condensation of a dihydrodipyrrin (Western half) and a bromodipyrromethane-monocarbinol (Eastern half), followed by oxidative cyclization of the putative dihydrobilene-a to form the meso-substituted zinc chlorin in yields of approximately 10%. The limited stability of the dihydrodipyrrin precluded study of the chlorin-forming process. We now have refined this methodology. A tetrahydrodipyrrin Western half (2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,3,3-trimethyldipyrrin) has been synthesized and found to be quite stable. The condensation of the Western half and an Eastern half (100 mM each) proceeded smoothly in CH(3)CN containing 100 mM TFA at room temperature for 30 min. The resulting linear tetrapyrrole, a 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobilene-a, also is quite stable, enabling study of the conversion to chlorin. Refined conditions for the oxidative cyclization were found to include the following: the tetrahydrobilene-a (10 mM), AgTf (3-5 molar equiv), Zn(OAc)(2) (15 molar equiv), and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (15 molar equiv) in CH(3)CN at reflux exposed to air for 4-6 h, affording the zinc chlorin. The chlorin-forming process could be implemented in either a two-flask process or a one-flask process. The two-flask process was applied to form six zinc chlorins bearing substituents such as pentafluorophenyl, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, TMS-ethyl benzoate, iodophenyl, or ethynylphenyl (deprotection of the TMS-ethynyl group occurred during the oxidative cyclization process). The stepwise yields (isolated) for the condensation and oxidative cyclization processes forming the tetrahydrobilene and zinc chlorin were 32-72% and 27-62%, respectively, giving overall yields of zinc chlorin from the Eastern and Western halves of 12-45%. Taken together, the refinements introduced enable 100-mg quantities of chlorin building blocks to be prepared in a facile and rational manner.