Flapping Peryleneimide as a Fluorogenic Dye with High Photostability and Strong Visible‐Light Absorption

Flapping fluorophores (FLAP) with a flexible 8π ring are rapidly gaining attention as a versatile photofunctional system. Here we report a highly photostable “flapping peryleneimide” with an unprecedented fluorogenic mechanism based on a bent‐to‐planar conformational change in the S₁ excited state. The S₁ planarization induces an electronic configurational switch, almost quenching the inherent fluorescence (FL) of the peryleneimide moieties. However, the FL quantum yield is remarkably improved with a prolonged lifetime upon a slight environmental change. This fluorogenic function is realized by sensitive π‐conjugation design, as a more π‐expanded analogue does not show the planarization dynamics. With strong visible‐light absorption, the FL lifetime response synchronized with the flexible flapping motion is useful for the latest optical techniques such as FL lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM).     

Flexible inner and outer coordination of Zn(II) N-confused porphyrin complex

Tetra- and dinuclear Zn(II) N-confused porphyrin dimers (1, 2) and pyridine-coordinating Zn(II) monomer complex (3) were synthesized, and the ditopic, inner and outer coordination of Zn metal in the dimer complex (1) was demonstrated by X-ray analyses.     

Anion Binding Properties of N-Confused Porphyrins at the Peripheral Nitrogen

Ni(II), Pd(II), and Cu(II) complexes of N-confused porphyrin (NCP) exhibit anion binding properties through a hydrogen bonding interaction at the peripheral NH of confused pyrrole ring. The binding constants of the tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-NCP metal complexes (1-M, M= Ni, Pd, Cu) for various halide anions in CH₂C1₂ increase in the order of F^? > Cl^? > Br^? > I^?, respectively. Zwitterionic resonance form of the NCP complexes as well as interactions between halide anions and a pentafluorophenyl group are suggested to be important for efficient anion binding.     

40]nonaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) and its heterometallic complexes with palladium-carbon bonds

meso-Pentafluorophenyl- substituted [40]nonaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) 3 has been prepared by using a stepwise ring-size-selective synthesis, and has been reduced with NaBH(4) to [42]nonaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) 5. Structurally, 3 is characterized by a figure-of-eight shape, consisting of a porphyrin-like tetrapyrrolic segment and a hexaphyrin-like hexapyrrolic segment, whereas 5 has been found to adopt a distorted nonplanar butterfly-like shape. In the mono-metal complexes 6 and 7, a Zn(II) or Cu(II) ion is bound by the porphyrin-like tetrapyrrolic segment, maintaining the overall structure of 3. Similarly to 3, complexes 6 and 7 are interconvertible with the corresponding complexes 9 and 10 through two-electron reduction with NaBH(4) and oxidation with DDQ. The metal-free hexaphyrin-like segments of 6 and 7 have been shown to serve as a suitable platform for the complexation of two palladium ions, providing hetero-trinuclear metal complexes 11 (Zn(II)-Pd(II)-Pd(II)) and 13 (Cu(II)-Pd(II)-Pd(II)) in high yields, in which the Zn or Cu ion resides at the same porphyrin-like segment, and one Pd ion is bound in an NNCC fashion through double C--H bond activation while the other is bound in an NNC fashion with single C--H bond activation. Multi-metal complexes 11, 12, and 13 exhibit small electrochemical HOMO-LUMO gaps (<0.6 eV), despite their nonplanar conformations.     

meso‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐boron(III)‐subporphyrin: Perimeter Iridium(III) Coordination

Peripherally metalated porphyrinoids are promising functional π‐systems displaying characteristic optical, electronic, and catalytic properties. In this work, 5‐(2‐pyridyl)‐ and 5,10,15‐tri(2‐pyridyl)‐B^III‐subporphyrins were prepared and used to produce cyclometalated subporphyrins by reactions with [Cp*IrCl₂]₂, which proceeded through an efficient C?H activation to give the corresponding mono‐ and tri‐Ir^III complexes, respectively. While the mono‐Ir^III complex was obtained as a diastereomeric mixture, a C₃‐symmetric tri‐Ir^III complex with the three Cp*‐units all at the concave side was predominantly obtained in a high yield of 90 %, which displays weak NIR phosphorescence even at room temperature in degassed CH₂Cl₂, differently from the mono‐Ir^III complexes.     

Cyclic dimer of a fused porphyrin zinc complex as a novel host with two pi-electronically coupled binding sites

Upon complexation with 4,4[prime or minute]-bipyridine, a cyclic dimer of a fused porphyrin zinc complex, having two pi-electronically coupled binding sites, shows a strong negative cooperativity in the second guest binding, to allow stepwise formation of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 inclusion complexes.     

Synthesis of A2B6‐Type [36]Octaphyrins: Copper(II)‐Metalation‐Induced Fragmentation Reactions to Porphyrins and N‐Fusion Reactions of meso‐(3‐Thienyl) Substituents

5,10,15‐Tris(pentafluorophenyl)tetrapyrromethane was efficiently prepared through a route involving stepwise diaroylation of 5‐pentafluorophenyldipyrromethane. A₂B₆‐type [36]octaphyrins were prepared by the cross condensation of the tetrapyrromethane with aryl aldehydes in moderate yields. A₂B₆‐type [36]octaphyrins bearing 2,4,6‐trifluorophenyl, 2,6‐dichlorophenyl, and phenyl substituents underwent Cu^II‐metalation‐induced fragmentation to give two molecules of AB₃‐type Cu^II porphyrins. A₂B₆‐type [36]octaphyrin bearing 3‐thienyl substituents underwent thermal N‐thienyl fusion reactions to provide a modestly aromatic [38]octaphyrin, which, upon treatment with MnO₂, underwent further N‐thienyl fusion and subsequent oxidation to give a nonaromatic doubly N‐thienyl fused [36]octaphyrin.     

Cross‐Conjugated Hexaphyrins and Their Bis‐Rhodium Complexes

A cross‐conjugated hexaphyrin that carries two meso‐oxacyclohexadienylidenyl (OCH) groups 9 was synthesized from the condensation of 5,10‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)tripyrrane with 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde. The reduction of 9 with NaBH₄ afforded the Möbius aromatic [28]hexaphyrin 10 . Bis‐rhodium complex 11 , prepared from the reaction of 10 with [{RhCl(CO)₂}₂], displays strong Hückel antiaromatic character because of the 28 π electrons that occupy the conjugated circuit on the enforced planar structure. The oxidation of 11 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) yielded complexes 12 and 13 depending upon the reaction conditions. Both 12 and 13 are planar owing to bis‐rhodium metalation. Although complex 12 bears two meso‐OCH groups at the long sides and is quinonoidal and nonaromatic in nature, complex 13 bears 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl and OCH groups and exhibits a moderate diatropic ring current despite its cross‐conjugated electronic circuit. The diatropic ring current increases upon increasing the solvent polarity, most likely due to an increased contribution of an aromatic zwitterionic resonance hybrid.     

Pictet–Spengler Synthesis of Quinoline‐Fused Porphyrins and Phenanthroline‐Fused Diporphyrins

Doubly and quadruply quinoline‐fused porphyrins were effectively synthesized through a reaction sequence consisting of Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of β‐borylated porphyrins with 2‐iodoaniline and subsequent Pictet–Spengler cyclization. These quinoline‐fused porphyrins display red‐shifted absorption bands and higher electron‐accepting abilities. This synthetic protocol also allowed the synthesis of phenanthroline‐fused porphyrin dimers, which bound either a Ni^II or Zn^II cation. The resultant metal complexes displayed further red shifted absorption spectra and molecular twists to effect an almost perpendicular arrangement of the two porphyrins.