Triply Linked Corrole Dimers

The oxidation of 10–10′ singly linked corrole dimers with DDQ at low concentration in CHCl₃ afforded meso–meso, β–β, β–β triply linked 2H‐corrole dimers (with two inner NH groups in each corrole unit), which exhibited characteristic ¹H NMR and absorption spectra attributable to their nonaromatic electronic networks. These 2H‐corrole dimers were reduced with NaBH₄ to aromatic 3H‐corrole dimers, which were unstable and easily oxidized back to the 2H‐corrole dimers upon exposure to air. Bis(zinc(II)) complexes of the 2H‐corrole dimers were synthesized and characterized as rare examples of nonaromatic zinc(II) corrole complexes.     

The Corrole Radical

The reaction of 5,10,15‐trimesitylcorrole (H₃cor) with tungsten hexachloride and tungsten hexacarbonyl resulted in the unexpected formation of the 3,17‐dichloro‐5,10,15‐trimesitylcorrole radical (H₂cor*) as an air‐stable product. X‐ray crystallography proved the planarization of the corrole radical structure, which was rationalized by the reduced steric hindrance of two versus three hydrogen atoms inside the N₄ cavity. Although the aromaticity was lost, no specific changes in C C or C N bond distances could be observed. The regioselectivity of the two‐fold chlorination is the result of the nucleophilic attack of chloride ions to an oxidized corrole macrocycle, and is supported by DFT results. The corrole radical acts as a dianionic ligand and allows the insertion of the divalent zinc(II) cation, which usually does not form neutral corrole complexes.     

Chiral Interlocked Corrole Dimers Directly Linked at Inner Carbon Atoms of Confused Pyrrole Rings

A facile synthetic strategy towards conformationally stable chiral chromophores based on dimeric porphyrinoids has been established. A peculiar class of face-to-face intramolecularly interlocked corrole dimers were formed by the oxidative C−C coupling linked at the inner carbon sites upon simple treatment of copper(II) ions. Their intrinsic electronic structures were modulated by the peripheral corrole ring annulations, which lead to distinct optical properties and redox profiles. The stereogenic carbon centers implemented in the confused corrole skeleton provided a rationale for designing novel chiral materials.