Milestones and Most Recent Advances in Corrole's Science and Technology

The renaissance in corrole chemistry is strongly correlated with synthetic breakthroughs that started in 1999, regarding the one-pot rather than multistep syntheses of this heme-like N4 macrocycle. This largely improved synthetic accessibility allowed for technological advances wherein the corresponding metal complexes have since been introduced as key elements. Great emphasis was devoted to the elucidation of the unique fundamental features that distinguish corrole ligands, among them outstanding electron donation (σ by the N atoms and π by the macrocycle) to transition metals chelated by them. Such investigations remain crucial for enabling the by-demand tuning of metallocorrole properties for distinctly different applications. These range from the catalysis of organic reactions, through bioimaging and disease prevention/treatment strategies, to photo- and electrocatalysis for clean energy. Surveyed are the original reports that impacted these developments, together with some of the most recent advances.