Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of nickel complexes of benzo-, 1,2-naphtho-, or 2,3-naphthoannulated β-oxatetraazachlorins

The first β-oxatetraazachlorin derivatives have been synthesized starting from phthalonitrile derivatives and 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione instead of the previously employed tetramethylsuccinonitrile. Absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectral properties are similar to those obtained for the corresponding tetramethyl-substituted TAC derivatives, confirming the presence of the low-symmetry aromatic structures.