Titanylation and vanadylation of highly π-conjugated porphyrins

We report the efficient synthesis of tetrabicycloporphyrin titanyl and vanadyl without decomposition of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene unit. The complexes were heated under vacuum to give titanyl and vanadyl tetrabenzoporphyrins in 100% yield. We also titanylated and vanadylated tetra[2,3]naphthoporphyrin and tetra[2,3]anthraporphyrin, which have a greater degree of π conjugation than tetrabenzoporphyrin.