We report herein unique stepwise protonation at inner imino-nitrogen atoms of a freebase derivative of a quadruply fused porphyrin (H2QFP), which has been newly synthesized. H2QFP has been revealed to have the two inner NH protons on the two nonfused pyrroles by X-ray diffraction analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The first protonation at one of the two imino-nitrogen atoms of the fused pyrroles smoothly proceeds with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in CH2Cl2 and the equilibrium constant (K1) of the protonation has been determined to be (1.3 ± 0.1) × 105 M–1. In contrast, the second protonation at the other imino-nitrogen atom is hard to occur unless a large excess amount of TFA is used, as reflected on a much smaller equilibrium constant, K2 = 7.3 ± 0.3 M–1. The stepwise protonation is ascribed to the structural rigidity caused by the ring fusion and the resultant steric repulsion among inner NH atoms of the diprotonated form. Electrochemical studies have revealed that protonation at the pyrrole nitrogen atoms caused positive shifts of the reduction potentials of the QFP derivatives. In addition, the ESR spectrum of the electrochemically one-electron-reduced monoprotonated QFP derivative showed well-resolved hyperfine splitting to represent its unsymmetrical electronic structure due to the monoprotonation.

Here, we report the effects of ring fusion, which causes expansion of the π-conjugation circuits of the porphyrin derivatives to the fused meso-aryl groups, on the aromaticity and the magnetic properties of porphyrin derivatives. These studies revealed the facts that the ring fusion with five-membered rings causes not only the remarkable red shifts of the absorption bands and narrowed HOMO–LUMO gaps, but also the contribution of anti-aromatic resonance forms to the magnetic properties as observed in the 1H NMR spectra. The optical absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies indicate that the increase in the number of the fused rings causes stabilization of the LUMO level of the porphyrin derivatives and as a result induces the loosening of the LUMO degeneracy that is generally observed for porphyrins. The electronic structure of a quadruply fused porphyrin derivative was experimentally clarified by the ESR studies on the 1e−-oxidized and 1e−-reduced species in THF. Furthermore, we revealed the substituent effects of the fused meso-aryl groups of quadruply fused porphyrins (QFPs) on the crystal structures, absorption spectra and redox potentials; the sensitiveness of the substituent effects shows that the π-conjugation circuits extended to the fused meso-aryl groups. Additionally, the elongation of the bond lengths between the pyrrolic nitrogen and the central metal ions in QFP–metal complexes causes a remarkable increase of the Lewis acidity of the central metal ions.

A novel quadruply-fused porphyrin has been synthesized with a facilely prepared precursor in a high yield. A detailed comparison of the physical properties of a series of fused porphyrins revealed remarkable effects of the ring fusion on lowering LUMO levels rather than HOMO levels.

A novel quadruply-fused porphyrin has been synthesized with a facilely prepared precursor in a high yield. A detailed comparison of the physical properties of a series of fused porphyrins revealed remarkable effects of the ring fusion on lowering LUMO levels rather than HOMO levels.

Here, we report the effects of ring fusion, which causes expansion of the π-conjugation circuits of the porphyrin derivatives to the fused meso-aryl groups, on the aromaticity and the magnetic properties of porphyrin derivatives. These studies revealed the facts that the ring fusion with five-membered rings causes not only the remarkable red shifts of the absorption bands and narrowed HOMO–LUMO gaps, but also the contribution of anti-aromatic resonance forms to the magnetic properties as observed in the 1H NMR spectra. The optical absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies indicate that the increase in the number of the fused rings causes stabilization of the LUMO level of the porphyrin derivatives and as a result induces the loosening of the LUMO degeneracy that is generally observed for porphyrins. The electronic structure of a quadruply fused porphyrin derivative was experimentally clarified by the ESR studies on the 1e−-oxidized and 1e−-reduced species in THF. Furthermore, we revealed the substituent effects of the fused meso-aryl groups of quadruply fused porphyrins (QFPs) on the crystal structures, absorption spectra and redox potentials; the sensitiveness of the substituent effects shows that the π-conjugation circuits extended to the fused meso-aryl groups. Additionally, the elongation of the bond lengths between the pyrrolic nitrogen and the central metal ions in QFP–metal complexes causes a remarkable increase of the Lewis acidity of the central metal ions.