A novel method for the synthesis of regiospecifically sulfonated porphyrin monomers and dimers

A novel method has been developed to regiospecifically synthesize water-soluble sulfonated porphyrin monomers tetrakis(4′-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin, tetrakis(3′-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin, tetrakis(2′-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin, tetrakis(2′,5′-dimethyl-4′-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin, the dimers of 1,2-bis[5,10,15-tri(4′-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinyl]benzene and 1,2-bis[5,10,15-tri(2′,5′-dimethyl-4′-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinyl]benzene in high yields through introduction of the trimethylsilyl group on the phenyl rings and reaction with trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate in CCl4 solvent.