Carbaporphyrinoid Systems

Following immediately after the serendipitous discovery of N-confused porphyrins, remarkably diverse carbaporphyrinoid systems have been synthesized and investigated. By replacing a pyrrolic unit within the porphyrin framework with cyclopentadiene, indene, azulene, cycloheptatriene, or benzene, new families of porphyrin-like macrocycles were produced. True carbaporphyrins are fully aromatic structures, while benziporphyrins are essentially devoid of macrocyclic aromatic character, and azuliporphyrins fall midway between the two extremes. Monocarbaporphyrinoids are superior organometallic ligands and form stable complexes with copper(III), silver(III), gold(III), nickel(II), palladium(II), platinum(II), rhodium(III), iridium(III), and ruthenium(II). Unusual oxidation reactions have also been discovered, commonly leading to derivatization of the internal carbon atom. In addition, structural rearrangements have been uncovered that allow the conversion of azuliporphyrins into benzocarbaporphyrins, and benziporphyrins into carbaporphyrins. Although less well studied, many examples of dicarbaporphyrinoids have been reported, and these show equally intriguing characteristics. Furthermore, contracted and expanded carbaporphyrinoids have been investigated. Studies in this area provide fundamental insights into the aromatic properties, tautomerization, and reactivity of porphyrins and related macrocyclic systems.