Microwave assisted synthesis of novel annealed porphyrins

New pyrrole derivatives (isoindoles) have been readily prepared by the reaction of an α,β-unsaturated sulfone with ethyl isocyanoacetate in the presence of tert-BuOK in good yields. The isoindoles are converted into new porphyrins which undergo retro Diels-Alder reactions under microwave irradiation at 250 °C for 4 min to give novel annealed porphyrins in quantitative yields.