Porphyrins with exocyclic rings. Part 20: Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of porphyrins with fused 2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole moieties

Porphyrins with fused 2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole units were prepared by the ‘3+1’ MacDonald-type methodology. 4-Nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole, 6-chloro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and 4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole condensed with isocyanoacetates in the presence of the non-nucleophilic base DBU to give tricyclic pyrrole derivatives in excellent yields. Further cleavage of the ester moieties and decarboxylation afforded α-unsubstituted pyrroles and these were further condensed with 2 equiv of an acetoxymethylpyrrole tert-butyl ester to give crude preparations of tripyrranes. The tert-butyl ester protective groups were cleaved with TFA and following dilution with dichloromethane, ‘3+1’ condensation with a pyrrole dialdehyde, and oxidation with ferric chloride, the heterocyclic ring fused porphyrins were obtained in moderate yields. The yields were lower than expected because of difficulties in preparing required tripyrranes due to the reduced reactivity of the pyrrolic intermediates. The UV–vis spectra of these new porphyrin systems were highly modified showing broadened split Soret bands. In addition, the nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc complexes gave unusual UV–vis spectra with weakened split Soret bands and strong Q-type absorptions above 600 nm. These modified structures show some potential for applications as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.