Synthesis of Octasubstituted Porphyrins

The synthesis of porphyrins having high solubility in organic solvents requires the presence of long chain aliphatic substituents. Such substituted porphyrins are readily prepared in good yields by extension of our general procedure¹ which involves the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones, conversion of these to 3,4-disubstituted pyrroles followed by acid catalyzed condensations of these pyrroles with formaldehyde in the presence of air.