Synthesis and electronic structures of D2h-symmetry tetrabenzoporphyrins

A novel low-symmetry tetrabenzoporphine with D2h symmetry (1) and its zinc complex (2) were prepared via mixed condensation reaction of 5,6-dimethyl phthalimide and 4,5,6,7-tetraphenyl phthalimide with sodium acetate in the presence of zinc acetate. The zinc complex 2 exhibited a split Q band at 640 and 623 nm and a single Soret band at 435 nm. The absorption spectra of 1 and 2 were calculated and analyzed using Hartree–Fock theory based on INDO/S Hamiltonian.