Quaterpyrroles as building blocks for the synthesis of expanded porphyrins

A new family of quaterpyrroles and their application as building blocks for the synthesis of macrocycles is reported. The preparation of these quaterpyrroles consisted of two synthetic steps: bromination of 2,2'-bipyrroles bearing two electron-withdrawing groups followed by Suzuki coupling with 1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrole-2-boronic acid. The resulting quaterpyrroles have been used to prepare an octaphyrin and a substituted cyclo[8]pyrrole. Additionally, the synthesis of a new macrocycle containing the quaterpyrrole and 2,5-di(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)thiophene moieties is presented.