Incorporation of a Phenanthrene Subunit into a Sapphyrin Framework: Synthesis of Expanded Aceneporphyrinoids

32-Hetero-5,6-dimethoxyphenanthrisapphyrins-macrocycles that link structural features of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons and expanded porphyrins-were obtained in a straightforward [3+1] condensation reaction of dimethoxyphenanthritripyrrane and 2,5-bis(arylhydroxymethyl)heterocyclopentadienes. The highly folded conformation of formally 4 n π-electron macrocycles causes them to manifest only limited macrocyclic π conjugation as explored by means of NMR spectroscopic and X-ray structural analyses, and supported by DFT calculations. Although protonation does not change their π-conjugation characteristics, the cleavage of ether groups at the phenanthrenylene moiety yields nonaromatic 32-hetero-5,6-dioxophenanthrisapphyrins.