La(OTf)3-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of meso-substituted porphyrinic thiazolidinones

Abstract  

An improved synthetic procedure is developed for the regioselective nitration of a phenyl group of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin by using NaNO₂ in a mixture of trichloroacetic acid and AcOH. The meso-(4-nitrophenyl)porphyrins are successfully reduced to corresponding meso-(4-aminophenyl)porphyrins by SnCl₂ under acidic conditions. In addition, an efficient one-pot methodology for synthesizing a series of novel meso-substituted porphyrinic thiazolidinone conjugates is developed by reacting meso-(4-aminophenyl)porphyrins with various aromatic aldehydes and mercaptoacetic acid in refluxing toluene using La(OTf)₃ as a catalyst. The products obtained are characterized on the basis of their spectral data. Preliminary photophysical properties of the newly synthesized compounds are reported.