Palladium-catalyzed reactions for the synthesis of chlorins and 5,10-porphodimethenes

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of RLi with various 5,10,15,20-tetrasubstituted porphyrins offers a convenient synthetic route to chlorins and porphodimethenes (calixphyrins). The reactions utilized various Pd catalysts and CuI and yielded either 2,3-substituted chlorins or 5,10-disubstituted porphodimethenes in yields ranging from 20-40%. The reaction of octaethylporphyrin with t-BuLi in the presence of a Pd-catalyst generated the corresponding 5,10-porphodimethene in 72% yield.     

5,10-A2B2-type meso-substituted porphyrins--a unique class of porphyrins with a realigned dipole moment

Current applications in porphyrin chemistry require the use of unsymmetrically substituted porphyrins. Many current industrial interests in optics and biomedicine require systems with either push-pull (electron-donating and -withdrawing groups) or amphiphilic systems (hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups). In this context we present the class of 5,10-A(2)B(2)-type porphyrins for which two different substituents are positioned in diagonally opposite meso positions. Thus, the intramolecular dipole moment in these tetrapyrroles is positioned along a β-β vector passing through two pyrrole rings. This is opposite to the situation of the frequently used 5,15-A(2)BC porphyrins for which the dipole moment is oriented along a meso-meso axis. We have elaborated syntheses of the 5,10-A(2)B(2) porphyrins by using transition-metal-catalyzed transformations of 5,10-A(2) porphyrins or direct substitutions reactions thereof; this gives the target molecules in 22-77% overall yields. The compounds exhibit interesting structural, spectroscopic, and optical features and can serve as building blocks for new porphyrin arrays and applications.     

Rational or statistical routes from 1-acyldipyrromethanes to meso-substituted porphyrins. Distinct patterns, multiple pyridyl substituents, and amphipathic architectures

New methodology is described for the synthesis of porphyrins bearing four (A 4, cis-A 2B 2, cis-ABC 2, trans-A 2B 2) or fewer (A, cis-AB, cis-A 2, trans-A 2) meso substituents. The method entails condensation of two 1-acyldipyrromethanes in the presence of a metal salt (MgBr 2, 3 mol equiv) and a noncoordinating base (DBU, 10 mol equiv) in a noncoordinating solvent (toluene) with heating (conventional or microwave irradiation) and exposure to air. The rational synthesis of trans-A 2B 2- or trans-A 2-porphyrins was achieved via condensation of two identical 1-acyldipyrromethanes. The statistical synthesis of various meso-substituted porphyrins was achieved via condensation of two nonidentical 1-acyldipyrromethanes. Both routes possess attractive features including (1) no scrambling, (2) good yield (up to 60%) at high concentration (100 mM) for the macrocycle-forming step, (3) reasonable scope (aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, or no substituent), (4) short reaction time ( approximately 2 h) via microwave irradiation, (5) magnesium porphyrins as the products, which easily undergo demetalation, and (6) facile chromatographic purification. A key advantage of the statistical route is to obtain a cis-substituted porphyrin without the corresponding trans isomer. For example, reaction of an A/B-substituted 1-acyldipyrromethane and the fully unsubstituted 1-formyldipyrromethane gave the magnesium chelates of three porphyrins: the trans-A 2B 2-porphyrin, the "hybrid" cis-AB-porphyrin, and porphine (no trans-AB-porphyrin can form), which were readily demetalated and separated as the free base species. Altogether 26 1-acyldipyrromethanes and 26 target porphyrins have been prepared, including many with two different pyridyl substituents. One set of amphipathic porphyrins includes cis-A 2B 2- or cis-A 2BC-porphyrins wherein A = pentyl and B/C = pyridyl ( o-, m-, p-). Taken together, the rational and statistical routes enable facile conversion of readily available 1-acyldipyrromethanes to diverse porphyrins bearing 1-4 meso substituents for which access is limited via other methods.     

Investigation of the scope of a new route to ABCD-bilanes and ABCD-porphyrins

A new route to bilanes and porphyrins bearing four distinct meso substituents has been studied to elucidate the scope and gain entry to previously inaccessible compounds. The route entails (i) synthesis of a 1-bromo-19-acylbilane by acid-catalyzed condensation of a 1-acyldipyrromethane and a 9-bromodipyrromethane-1-carbinol and (ii) intramolecular cyclization of the 1-bromo-19-acylbilane in the presence of a metal salt (MgBr2, 3 mol equiv) and a non-nucleophilic base (DBU, 10 mol equiv) in a noncoordinating solvent (toluene) at 115 degrees C exposed to air to afford the corresponding magnesium(II) porphyrin. In this study, two sets of bilanes were initially prepared to explore substituent effects. In the first set, all bilanes vary only in the nature of the substituent at the 10-position. In the second set, all bilanes vary only in the nature of the substituent attached to the acyl unit (the 20-position). The substituents examined at the 10- and 20-positions include alkyl, aryl (electron-rich, electron-deficient, hindered), heteroaryl, ester, or no substituent (-H). The bilanes were obtained in 35-87% yield, and the target porphyrins in up to 60% yield. Further study of the scope focused on bilanes and porphyrins bearing three heterocyclic substituents (o-, m-, p-pyridyl) or four alkyl groups (ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl), in which case microwave irradiation was used for the porphyrin-forming step. Altogether, 17 bilanes and 19 porphyrins were prepared and characterized. In summary, the new route provides access to meso-substituted bilanes and porphyrins for which access is limited via other methods.     

Effect of meso-substituents on the osmium tetraoxide reaction and pinacol-pinacolone rearrangement of the corresponding vic-dihydroxyporphyrins

To investigate the effects of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents upon the reaction of porphyrins with osmium tetraoxide, and the pinacol-pinacolone rearrangement of the resulting diols, a series of meso-substituted porphyrins were prepared by total synthesis. Porphyrins with electron-donating substitutents at the meso-positions gave vic-dihydroxychlorins in which the adjacent pyrrole subunit was predominantly oxidized. No such selectivity was observed in a porphyrin containing a methoxycarbonyl as the electron-withdrawing group, whereas a formyl substituent again resulted in oxidation at the pyrrole unit adjacent to the meso-substituent. Under pinacol-pinacolone conditions, vic-dihydroxy chlorins containing 4-methoxyphenyl or 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl groups at the meso-position showed preferential migration of the ethyl group over the methyl group to give 8-ketochlorins, whereas the diol with an n-heptyl substituent under similar reaction conditions gave both 7- and 8-ketochlorins. In contrast, the diol containing a meso-formyl substituent produced the corresponding 7-ketochlorin exclusively. These results indicate that it is not possible to predict the reactivity of meso-substituted porphyrins in the osmium tetraoxide reaction nor the general substituent migratory aptitudes in the pinacol-pinacolone rearrangement based on simple electronic arguments, most likely because many parameters (e.g., meso-beta-pyrrolic steric crowding and long-range electronic effects) ultimately determine the reactivity. The structural assignments of the porphyrin diols and the keto-analogues were confirmed by extensive (1)H NMR studies; some of the dihydroxychlorins and ketochlorins were found to display unusual features in their (1)H NMR spectra.     

Chemical ionization of substituted naphthalenes using tetrahydrofuran as a reagent in gas chromatography with ion trap mass spectrometry

The ion/molecule reactions of nine monosubstituted naphthalene compounds in chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CI-MS) were studied using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as CI reagent. Proton affinity factors, substituent effects and the preferred site of adduct ion attachment were examined. Good correlation was observed between proton affinity and the formation of [M](+*) and [M+H](+) ions. The influence of substituents on protonation and site-specific adduct [M+13](+) and [M+41](+) ion formation is also observed, with the cyano substituent showing the most stable [M+41](+) ion. Collision-activated dissociation experiments were used to characterize the variety of adducts formed under CI conditions, and provided insight into product ion structures and mechanisms of dissociation and condensation during CI-MS/MS.     

Introduction of a third meso substituent into 5,10-diaryl chlorins and oxochlorins

Chlorins/oxochlorins bearing distinct patterns of substituents are valuable compounds in bioorganic and materials chemistry. Treatment of a 5,10-diaryl-substituted chlorin or oxochlorin with TFA-d(1) resulted in selective deuteriation of the remaining meso positions (15, 20) rather than any of the beta-pyrrolic positions. Electrophilic iodination or bromination of a 5,10-diaryl-substituted chlorin proceeded with high regioselectivity, affording the 5,10-diaryl-15-halo-substituted chlorin. Iodination or bromination of a free base 5,10-diaryloxochlorin gave a mixture of products arising through halogenation at the 15-, 20-, and beta-pyrrolic positions, while bromination of a zinc 5,10-diaryloxochlorin selectively gave the 5,10-diaryl-20-bromo-substituted oxochlorin. The Suzuki coupling reaction of a phenyl boronic acid derivative and a 5,10-diaryl-15-iodooxochlorin or 5,10-diaryl-20-bromooxochlorin gave the corresponding 5,10,15- or 5,10,20-triaryloxochlorin. The introduction of a third aryl substituent into the chlorin or oxochlorin causes an approximately 5-nm red shift of the long wavelength Q(y) absorption band. Two phenylethyne-linked oxochlorin-oxochlorin dyads in distinct metalation states (zinc/free base, free base/zinc) were prepared by Sonogashira coupling reactions of a 5,10-diaryl-20-bromooxochlorin and a 10-substituted ethynylphenyl oxochlorin. This study provides access to new chlorins/oxochlorins that can be utilized in diverse applications.     

Highly substituted 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrins with meso aryl residues

Highly substituted porphyrin-bearing meso aryl groups are useful compounds for optical applications and for studies on the interrelationship between the substituent pattern, macrocycle conformation and physical properties. They serve as biomimetic models for the function of tetrapyrroles in nature and help to elucidate modulation of cofactor properties through conformational effects. Using a sequence of lithium organic substitution reactions the synthesis of novel free base 5,10-A₂- and 5,10-AB-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrins bearing donating groups such as -OMe and -NMe₂ on the aryl-substituent was achieved. Larger aromatic residues (1-naphthyl, 9-anthracenyl and 9-phenanthrenyl) could be introduced into the macrocycle system as well, and these systems were used for the preparation of highly substituted porphyrins with a mixed substituent pattern. Using phenanthrenyl derivatives, the complete series of meso phenanthrenyl substituted octaethylporphyrins was successfully synthesized and the palladium complexes were prepared for photophysical investigations. Structural studies clearly showed the influence of individual substituents on the conformation of the tetrapyrrole macrocycle and conformational analyses revealed the variation of the underlying distortion modes depending on the type and arrangement of the meso substituents.     

Stereoselective synthesis of chiral, non-racemic 1,2,3-tri- and 1,3-disubstituted ferrocene derivatives

Chiral, non-racemic 1,2,3-trisubstituted ferrocene derivatives are accessible from monosubstituted ferrocenes through two sequential ortho-deprotonation reactions; removal of the central substituent gives 1,3-disubstituted ferrocenes.     

Virtual libraries of tetrapyrrole macrocycles. Combinatorics, isomers, product distributions, and data mining

A software program (PorphyrinViLiGe) has been developed to enumerate the type and relative amounts of substituted tetrapyrrole macrocycles in a virtual library formed by one of four different classes of reactions. The classes include (1) 4-fold reaction of n disubstituted heterocycles (e.g., pyrroles or diiminoisoindolines) to form β-substituted porphyrins, β-substituted tetraazaporphyrins, or α- or β-substituted phthalocyanines; (2) combination of m aminoketones and n diones to form m × n pyrroles, which upon 4-fold reaction give β-substituted porphyrins; (3) derivatization of an 8-point tetrapyrrole scaffold with n reagents, and (4) 4-fold reaction of n aldehydes and pyrrole to form meso-substituted porphyrins. The program accommodates variable ratios of reactants, reversible or irreversible reaction (reaction classes 1 and 2), and degenerate modes of formation. Po?lya's theorem (for enumeration of cyclic entities) has also been implemented and provides validation for reaction classes 3 and 4. The output includes the number and identity of distinct reaction-accessible substituent combinations, the number and identity of isomers thereof, and the theoretical mass spectrum. Provisions for data mining enable assessment of the number of products having a chosen pattern of substituents. Examples include derivatization of an octa-substituted phthalocyanine with eight reagents to afford a library of 2,099,728 members (yet only 6435 distinct substituent combinations) and reversible reaction of six distinct disubstituted pyrroles to afford 2649 members (yet only 126 distinct substituent combinations). In general, libraries of substituted tetrapyrrole macrocycles occupy a synthetically accessible region of chemical space that is rich in isomers (>99% or 95% for the two examples, respectively).     

Synthesis of hydroporphyrins based on comparative studies of palladium-catalyzed and non-catalyzed approaches

Hydroporphyrins have been synthesized using both Pd-catalyzed and non-catalyzed approaches. Comparative studies of the reaction of tetrasubstituted porphyrins with organolithium reagents in the presence of and without palladium catalysts showed that depending on reagents, the catalyst structure and reactivity of the corresponding porphyrins, chlorins (β-hydroporphyrins) and/or porphodimethenes (meso hydroporphyrins) of 5,10-type can be prepared in reasonable yields. In the absence of Pd catalysts, the formation of chlorins is predominant in the reactions with aliphatic RLi while porphodimethenes are the main products in reactions with PhLi. The use of a palladium catalyst resulted in the formation of both types of hydroporphyrins and the selective formation of either β-mono- or disubstituted chlorins. Of special interest was the reaction of octaethylporphyrin. Here, reaction with t-BuLi in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄/CuI proceeded with complete regioselectivity for 5,10-porphodimethenes.     

The reaction of porphyrins with organolithium reagents

Porphyrins react readily with organolithium reagents, preferentially in the meso positions. The overall reaction is a nucleophilic substitution and proceeds via initial reaction of the organic nucleophile with a meso carbon yielding an anionic species which is hydrolyzed to a porphodimethene (5,15-dihydroporphyrin), formally constituting an addition reaction to two Cm positions. Subsequent oxidation with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) yields meso-substituted porphyrins. The reaction is highly versatile as it is accomplished in high, often quantitative yields with various alkyl or aryl lithium reagents. In addition, LiR can be used for reaction with a variety of metal complexes (best with NiII, but also with ZnII, CuII, and CoII) and most useful with free base porphyrins. Similarly beneficial this reaction can be used in sequence for the introduction of 1, 2, 3, or 4 (different) meso substituents giving for the first time an entry into any desired meso-substituted porphyrin. If meso-substituted porphyrins are used, reaction with LiR can be used for either the preparation of phlorins (already known reaction), porphodimethenes (5,15-dihydroporphyrins, including those with exocyclic double bonds, for example, 5(1),5(2)-didehydroporphyrins) or chlorins (2,3-dihydroporphyrins) depending on the substituent type in the reactant porphyrins. Thus, this reaction presents a generally applicable method for the facile and versatile functionalization of porphyrins.     

New synthesis of zinc tetrakis(arylethynyl)porphyrins and substituent effects on their redox chemistry

Sonogashira coupling of zinc 5,10,15,20-tetraethynylporphyrin with various phenyl iodides under mild conditions afforded good yields of the corresponding zinc porphyrins. This method is applicable to a variety of aryl iodides including meso-substituted iodoporphyrin to form a conjugated star-shaped multiporphyrin. The UV-Vis spectra show that peak broadening, red shifts, and changes in the oscillator strength of absorptions increase with the extension of pi-conjugation. In the electrochemical measurements, the first oxidation of porphyrins 4-9 occurs at potentials in the range +0.89 to +1.08 V, which are comparable to that of ZnTPP (TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin). The first reduction was observed at potentials from -0.73 to -0.89 V, which is anodically shifted by 390-550 mV as compared to that of ZnTPP, and the second reduction occurs at potentials in the range -1.12 to -1.33 V. The para-substituted tetrakis(phenylethynyl)porphyrins show substituent effects on their redox chemistry and exhibit only slight substituent effects in their emission and absorption maxima.     

Mechanism and efficiency of cell death of type II photosensitizers: effect of zinc chelation

A series of meso-substituted tetra-cationic porphyrins, which have methyl and octyl substituents, was studied in order to understand the effect of zinc chelation and photosensitizer subcellular localization in the mechanism of cell death. Zinc chelation does not change the photophysical properties of the photosensitizers (all molecules studied are type II photosensitizers) but affects considerably the interaction of the porphyrins with membranes, reducing mitochondrial accumulation. The total amount of intracellular reactive species induced by treating cells with photosensitizer and light is similar for zinc-chelated and free-base porphyrins that have the same alkyl substituent. Zinc-chelated porphyrins, which are poorly accumulated in mitochondria, show higher efficiency of cell death with features of apoptosis (higher MTT response compared with trypan blue staining, specific acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, stronger cytochrome c release and larger sub-G1 cell population), whereas nonchelated porphyrins, which are considerably more concentrated in mitochondria, triggered mainly necrotic cell death. We hypothesized that zinc-chelation protects the photoinduced properties of the porphyrins in the mitochondrial environment.     

Stirring the porphyrin alphabet soup--functionalization reactions for porphyrins

Advances in the synthesis of unsymmetrically meso substituted porphyrins are based on the development of new total syntheses and porphyrin functionalization methods. These methods have replaced earlier mixed condensation reactions and give synthetic access to almost any desired meso-substituted porphyrin. They include the complete series of porphyrin homologues and regioisomers of the A(x)-series with either alkyl or aryl residues, and numerous examples of ABCD-type chromophores. The syntheses are based on a combination of classic functionalization reactions, the use of organolithium reagents in S(N)Ar reactions, and organometallic reactions with Pd, Ni, Cr, Ru, B, and Sn catalysis. This feature article gives an account of our work in the past decade to develop synthetic methods for the A(x)- and ABCD-type porphyrins and their use as optical materials and photosensitizers.     

On the origin of cis/trans stereoselectivity in intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of substituted pentadienyl acrylates: a comprehensive density functional study

[structures: see text] A gas-phase B3LYP/6-31+G(d) study of substituent effects on the stereochemistry of both intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of 9-E- and 9-Z-substituted pentadienyl acrylates and intermolecular Diels-Alder (DA) reactions between butadiene and monosubstituted alkenes and 3-substituted acrylates is reported and involves the calculation of 230 transition structures. It was found that, although exo ("anti-Alder") addition of monosubstituted ethenes to butadiene is the norm, Alder endo selectivity is more widely predicted for 3-substituted methyl acrylate dienophiles, and this was explained in terms of secondary orbital interactions (SOIs). Whereas cis/trans selectivity for IMDA reactions involving 9-E-substituted pentadienyl acrylates generally follows the normal pattern found for the corresponding intermolecular DA reactions, the 9-Z-substituted stereoisomers generally displayed trans selectivity that was much stronger than can be attributed to effects of the isolated substituent. This is strikingly so with unsaturated electron-withdrawing substituents whose endo selectivities, displayed in intermolecular DA reactions, are reversed in the IMDA reactions of pentadienyl acrylates. The origin of this anomalous Z-effect is explained in terms of the twist-mode asynchronicity concept of Brown and Houk. These ideas are used to explain the stereochemical outcomes of IMDA reactions of other triene systems.     

Unusual regioselective mercuration of metalloporphyrins and its potential applications

The reaction of Hg(CF3CO2)2 with metalloporphyrins produces mercurated porphyrins regioselectively, the reaction, surprisingly occurring at the most hindered betaB-position; this behavior is in marked contrast to the usual electrophilic substitution reactions of porphyrins, whose reactions produce meso-substituted porphyrins; the obtained mercurated porphyrins are active to transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions, such as the Mizoroki-Heck reaction.     

Development and optimization of porphyrin gas sensing LB films

A series of meso-substituted metal-free porphyrins has been developed which show high sensitivity to NO2 gas in the sub-5 ppm concentration range. By selecting different substituents, it has been possible to improve in a systematic manner the response time and sensitivity of the porphyrin LB film to NO2. Initially, a sulphonamino substituent yielded a fairly long response time of around 450 s but this was shortened considerably when this substituent was changed for a stearamido group. Further modifications resulted in achieving a porphyrin LB film which exhibited a t50 response time of only 11 s. By using an optically inert calixarene host material in which the porphyrin guest was incorporated, it was possible to obtain t50 values as low as 5 s.     

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).     

Effects of aldehyde or dipyrromethane substituents on the reaction course leading to meso-substituted porphyrins

To better understand the effects of diverse substituents on reactions leading to porphyrins, pyrrole+aldehyde condensations and related reactions of dipyrromethanes were examined. The course of pyrrole+aldehyde condensations was investigated by monitoring the yield of porphyrin (by UV-Vis spectroscopy), reaction of aldehyde (by TLC), and changes in the composition of oligomers (by laser desorption mass spectrometry). Reaction reversibility was examined via exchange experiments. Reversibility of reactions leading to porphyrin was further probed with studies of dipyrromethanes. The reaction course was found to depend on the nature of the substituent and the acid catalyst. Alkyl or electron-donating substituents displayed levels of reversibility (exchange/scrambling) on par or greater than that of the phenyl substituent, whereas electron-withdrawing or sterically bulky substituents exhibited little to no reversibility. The results obtained provide insight into the electronic and steric effects of different substituents and should facilitate the design of synthetic plans for preparing porphyrinic macrocycles.