We demonstrate that photoactivated oxygen addition to diphenylanthracene moities can be used as a tool for protection of porphyrin's phosphorescence against oxygen quenching. Phosphorescent palladium(II) tetrabenzoporphyrin, covalently linked to four diphenylanthracene moieties, was synthesized and studied. Upon irradiation with ambient light or red laser in solution in air, addition of oxygen and formation of the corresponding endoperoxides were observed. Heating of the irradiated samples afforded the parent porphyrin material.

A synthetic route to symmetrical tetraaryltetraanthra[2,3]porphyrins (Ar4TAPs) was developed. Ar4TAPs bearing various substituents in meso-phenyls and anthracene residues were prepared from the corresponding pyrrolic precursors. The synthesized porphyrins possess high solubility and exhibit remarkably strong absorption bands in the near-infrared region (790–950 nm). The scope of the method, selection of the peripheral substituents, choice of the metal, and their influence on the optical properties are discussed together with the first X-ray crystallographic data for anthraporphyrin.

We demonstrate that photoactivated oxygen addition to diphenylanthracene moities can be used as a tool for protection of porphyrin's phosphorescence against oxygen quenching. Phosphorescent palladium(II) tetrabenzoporphyrin, covalently linked to four diphenylanthracene moieties, was synthesized and studied. Upon irradiation with ambient light or red laser in solution in air, addition of oxygen and formation of the corresponding endoperoxides were observed. Heating of the irradiated samples afforded the parent porphyrin material.