meso-Alkylidene (m-benzi)pentaphyrin: a modified pentaphyrin bearing exocyclic double bonds at meso-positions

meso-Alkylidene (m-benzi)pentaphyrin containing exocyclic C=C double bonds at two meso-positions is synthesized and fully characterized for the first time. The single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis shows a concave conformation with two pyrrole rings inverted. The first protonation occurs exclusively at core nitrogen. The synthesized compound displays concentration dependent chromogenic responses for fluoride anion in organic solvent.