Halide‐Anion Binding by Singly and Doubly N‐Confused Porphyrins

The halide‐binding properties of N‐confused porphyrin (NCP, 1 ) and doubly N‐confused porphyrins (trans‐N₂CP ( 2 ), cis‐N₂CP ( 3 )) were examined in CH₂Cl₂. In the free‐base forms, cis‐N₂CP ( 3 ) showed the highest affinity to each anion (Cl^?, Br^?, I^?) with association constants K_a=7.8×10³, 1.9×10³, and 5.8×10² M ^?1, respectively. As metal complexes, on the other hand, trans‐N₂CP 2–Cu exhibited the highest affinity to Cl^?, Br^?, and I^? with K_a=9.0×10⁴, 2.7×10⁴, and 1.9×10³ M ^?1, respectively. The corresponding K_a values for cis‐N₂CP 3–Cu and NCP 1–Cu were about 1/10 and 1/2, respectively, of those of 2–Cu . With the help of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and complementary affinity measurements of a series of trisubstituted N‐confused porphyrins, the efficient anion binding of NCPs was attributed to strong hydrogen bonding at the highly polarized NH moieties owing to the electron‐deficient C₆F₅ groups at meso positions as well as the ideally oriented dipole moments and large molecular polarizability. The orientation and magnitude of the dipole moments in NCPs were suggested to be important factors in the differentiation of the affinity for anions.     

Tetramethyl‐m‐benziporphodimethene and Isomeric α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Lactam Embedded N‐Confused Tetramethyl‐m‐benziporphodimethenes

The condensation reaction of α,α′‐dihydroxy‐1,3‐diisopropylbenzene, pyrrole, and an aldehyde leads to the formation of tetramethyl‐m‐benziporphodimethene and outer α‐pyrrolic carbon oxygenated N‐confused tetramethyl‐m‐benziporphodimethenes containing a γ‐lactam ring in the macrocycle. Two isomers with the carbonyl group of the lactam ring either close to (O‐Up) or away from (O‐Down) the neighboring sp³ meso carbon were synthesized and characterized. The single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis on the regular and γ‐lactam containing tetramethyl‐m‐benziporphodimethenes showed highly distorted macrocycles for all compounds. For O‐Up and O‐Down isomers, dimeric structures, assembling by intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions through lactam rings, were observed in the solid state. Fitting the concentration dependent chemical shifts of the outer NH proton using the non‐linear regression method give a maximum association constant of 108.9 M ^?1 for the meso 4‐methylcarboxyphenyl substituted O‐Down isomer. The DFT calculations concluded that the O‐Up isomer is energetically more stable, and the keto form is more stable than the enol form.     

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Doubly β‐to‐β Bridged Cyclic ZnII Porphyrin Arrays

A series of doubly β‐to‐β bridged cyclic Zn^II porphyrin arrays were prepared by a stepwise Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of borylated Zn^II porphyrin with different bridge groups. The coupling of the building block of β,β′‐diboryl Zn^II porphyrin 1 with different bridges provided the doubly β‐to‐β carbazole‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 3 , the fluorene‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 5 , the fluorenone‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin array 7 , and the three‐carbazole‐bridged Zn^II porphyrin ring 8 . The structural assignment of 3 was confirmed by the X‐ray diffraction analysis, which revealed a highly symmetrical and remarkably bent syn‐form structure. The incorporation of bridge units with different electronic effects results in different photophysical properties of the cyclic Zn^II porphyrin arrays. Comprehensive photophysical studies demonstrate that the electron‐withdrawing bridge fluorenone has the largest electronic interaction with the Zn^II porphyrin unit among the series, thus resulting in the highest two‐photon absorption cross‐section values (σ⁽²⁾) of 6570±60 GM for 7 . The present work provides a new strategy for developing porphyrin‐based optical materials.     

Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Complexes of β‐Unsubstituted 5,15‐Diazaporphyrins and Pyridazine‐Fused Diazacorrinoids: Metal–Template Syntheses and Peripheral Functionalizations

The present paper reports the first comprehensive study on the synthesis, structures, optical and electrochemical properties, and peripheral functionalizations of nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of β‐unsubstituted 5,15‐diazaporphyrins (M‐DAP; M=Ni, Cu) and pyridazine‐fused diazacorrinoids (Ni‐DACX; X=N, O). These two classes of compounds were constructed starting from mesityldipyrromethane by a metal–template method. Ni‐DAP and Cu‐DAP were prepared in high yields by the reaction of the respective metal–bis(dibromodipyrrin) complexes with NaN₃–CuX (X=I, Br), whereas Ni‐DACN and Ni‐DACO were formed as predominant products by the reaction with NaN₃. In both cases, the metal centers change their geometry from tetrahedral to square planar during the aza‐annulation; X‐ray crystallographic analyses of M‐DAPs showed highly planar diazaporphyrin π planes. The Q band of Ni‐DAP was redshifted and intensified compared with that of a nickel–porphyrin reference, due to the involvement of electronegative nitrogen atoms at the meso positions. It was found that the peripheral bromination of Ni‐DAP and Ni‐DACO occurred regioselectively to afford Ni‐DAP‐Br₄ and Ni‐DACO‐Br, respectively. These brominated derivatives underwent Stille reactions with tributyl(phenyl)stannane to give the corresponding phenylated derivatives, Ni‐DAP‐Ph₄ and Ni‐DACO‐Ph. On the basis of the absorption spectra and X‐ray analysis, it has been concluded that the attached phenyl groups efficiently conjugate with the diazaporphyrin π system. The present results unambiguously corroborate that the β‐unsubstituted DAPs and DACXs are promising platforms for the development of a new class of π‐conjugated azaporphyrin‐based materials.     

N‐Fusion Approach in Construction of Contracted Carbaporphyrinoids: Formation of N‐Fused Telluraporphyrin

Insertion of PCl₃ into 5,10,15,20‐tetraaryl‐21‐telluraporphyrin leads to a phosphorus complex of N‐fused dihydrotelluraporphyrin with an inverted tellurophene ring. Its CNN coordination core places the macrocycle in the family of contracted carbaporphyrinoids. A cycle of direct transformations affords an elegant triangle of three mutually convertible N‐fused porphyrinoids, with distinct spectroscopic features: antiaromatic, nonaromatic and aromatic. The nonaromatic species has a dome shaped skeleton which forms in the solid state a ball and socket structure with C₆₀.     

Halide Anion Mediated Dimerization of a meso‐Unsubstituted N‐Confused Porphyrin

The new N‐confused porphyrin (NCP) derivatives, meso‐unsubstituted β‐alkyl‐3‐oxo N‐confused porphyrin (3‐oxo‐NCP) and related macrocycles, were synthesized from appropriate pyrrolic precursors by a [3+1]‐type condensation reaction. 3‐Oxo‐NCP forms a self‐assembled dimer in dichloromethane that is stabilized by complementary hydrogen‐bonding interactions arising from the peripheral amide‐like moieties. The protonated form of 3‐oxo‐NCP was observed to bind halide anions (F^?, Cl^?) through the outer NH and the inner pyrrolic NH groups, thus affording a dimer in dichloromethane. The structure of the chloride‐bridged dimer in the solid state was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Insertion of Nitriles into Zirconocene 1‐aza‐1,3‐diene Complexes: Chemoselective Synthesis of N–H and N‐Substituted Pyrroles

The direct insertion of nitriles into zirconocene‐1‐aza‐1,3‐diene complexes provides an efficient, chemoselective, and controllable synthesis of N‐H and N‐substituted pyrroles upon acidic aqueous work‐up. The outcome of the reaction (that is, the formation of N‐H or N‐substituted pyrroles) results from the different cyclization patterns, which depend on the relative stability and reactivity of the enamine–imine tautomers formed by hydrolysis of the diazazirconacycles.     

Vernier‐Templated Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Supramolecular Chemistry of a 12‐Porphyrin Nanoring

Vernier templating exploits a mismatch between the number of binding sites in a template and a reactant to direct the formation of a product that is large enough to bind several template units. Here, we present a detailed study of the Vernier‐templated synthesis of a 12‐porphyrin nanoring. NMR and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) analyses show that Vernier complexes are formed as intermediates in the cyclo‐oligomerization reaction. UV/Vis/NIR titrations show that the three‐component assembly of the 12‐porphyrin nanoring figure‐of‐eight template complex displays high allosteric cooperativity and chelate cooperativity. This nanoring–template 1:2 complex is among the largest synthetic molecules to have been characterized by single‐crystal analysis. It crystallizes as a racemate, with an angle of 27° between the planes of the two template units. The crystal structure reveals many unexpected intramolecular C?H???N contacts involving the tert‐butyl side chains. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments show that molecules of the 12‐porphyrin template complex can remain intact on the gold surface, although the majority of the material unfolds into the free nanoring during electrospray deposition.     

Electrochemistry of Nitrated N‐Confused Free‐Base Tetraaryl‐Porphyrins in Nonaqueous Media

Four nitrated N‐confused free‐base tetraarylporphyrins were synthesized and characterized by electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in nonaqueous media. The examined compounds are represented as NO₂(Ar)₄NcpH₂, where NO₂(Ar)₄Ncp is the dianion of a tetraaryl N‐confused porphyrin with an inner carbon bound NO₂ group and Ar is a p‐CH₃OPh, p‐CH₃Ph, Ph or p‐ClPh substituent on each meso‐position of the macrocycle. UV/Vis spectra and NMR spectroscopy data indicate that the same form of the porphyrin exists in CH₂Cl₂ and DMF which is unlike the case of non‐NO₂ N‐confused porphyrins. The Soret band of NO₂(Ar)₄NcpH₂ exhibits a 30–36 nm red‐shift in CH₂Cl₂ and DMF as compared to the spectrum of the non‐NO₂ N‐confused porphyrins. The first two reductions and first oxidation of NO₂(Ar)₄NcpH₂ are reversible in CH₂Cl₂ containing 0.1 M TBAP. The measured HOMO–LUMO gap averages 1.65 V in CH₂Cl₂ and 1.53 V in DMF, with both values being similar to those of the non‐NO₂ substituted compounds. The nitro group on the inverted pyrrole is itself not reduced within the negative potential limit of CH₂Cl₂ or DMF, but its presence significantly affects both the UV/Vis spectra and redox potentials.     

meso‐3,5‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl‐Substituted Expanded Porphyrins: Synthesis,Characterization, and Optical,Electrochemical, and Photophysical Properties

Trifluoroacetic acid‐catalyzed condensation of pyrrole with electron‐deficient and sterically hindered 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde results in the unexpected production of a series of meso‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl‐substituted expanded porphyrins including [22]sapphyrin 2 , N‐fused [22]pentaphyrin 3 , [26]hexaphyrin 4 , and intact [32]heptaphyrin 5 together with the conventional 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)porphyrin 1 . These expanded porphyrins are characterized by mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The optical and electrochemical measurements reveal a decrease in the HOMO–LUMO gap with increasing size of the conjugated macrocycles, and in accordance with the trend, the deactivation of the excited singlet state to the ground state is enhanced.     

Neo‐Fused Hexaphyrin: A Molecular Puzzle Containing an N‐Linked Pentaphyrin

The first neo‐confused hexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.0) was synthesized by oxidative ring closure of a hexapyrrane bearing two terminal “confused” pyrroles. The new compound displays a folded conformation with a short interpyrrolic C???N distance of 3.102 Å, and thus it readily underwent ring fusion to afford a neo‐fused hexaphyrin with an unprecedented 5,5,5,7‐tetracyclic ring structure. Furthermore, coordination of Cu^II triggered a ring opening/contracting reaction to afford a Cu^II complex of an N‐linked pentaphyrin derivative. The roles of reactive N? C bonds in the porphyrinoid macrocycles were demonstrated.     

Metal‐Assisted One‐Pot Synthesis of Isoporphyrin Complexes

Zinc and cadmium complexes of meso‐arylisoporphyrins carrying a pyrrolyl or dipyrrinyl substituent at the sp³ carbon atom were obtained through a simple one‐pot variation of the Alder–Longo porphyrin synthesis. Key to the formation and stabilization of isoporphyrins is the presence of metal acetates during the oxidative macrocyclization step. The characteristic Q‐bands of isoporphyrins are found in the NIR region between 750 nm and 880 nm. All of the isolated pyrrolyl‐ and dipyrrinyl‐appended isoporphyrins are stable under typical laboratory conditions and allow chemical transformations like BF₂ coordination, transmetalation, and ligand exchange.