Creation from Confusion and Fusion in the Porphyrin World─The Last Three Decades of N-Confused Porphyrinoid Chemistry.

Confusion is a novel concept of isomerism in porphyrin chemistry, delivering a steady stream of new chemistry since the discovery of N-confused porphyrin, a porphyrin mutant, in 1994. These days, the number of confused porphyrinoids is increasing, and confusion and associated fusion are found in various fields such as supramolecular chemistry, materials chemistry, biological chemistry, and catalysts. In this review, the birth and growth of confused porphyrinoids in the last three decades are described.

NH Tautomerism of N-Confused Porphyrin: Solvent/Substituent Effects and Isomerization Mechanism.

The effects of substituents and solvents on the NH tautomerism of N-confused porphyrin (2) were investigated. The structures, electronic states, and aromaticity of NH tautomers (2-2H and 2-3H) were studied by absorption and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H, 13C, and 15N) spectroscopies, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and theoretical calculations. The relative stability of the tautomers is highly affected by solvents, with the 3H-type tautomer being more stable in nonpolar solvents, while the 2H-type tautomer being highly stabilized in polar solvents with high donor numbers such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine, and acetone. Electron-withdrawing groups on the meso-aryl substituents as well as the methyl group at the ortho position also stabilize the 2H-type tautomer. Kinetically, the tautomerism rate is significantly influenced by solvent and concentration, and a particularly large activation entropy (ΔS⧧) is obtained in pyridine. The first-order deuterium isotope effect on the reaction rates of NH tautomerism (kH/kD) is determined to be 2.4 at 298 K. On the basis of kinetic data, the mechanism of isomerization is identified as an intramolecular process, including the rotation of the confused pyrrole in pyridine/chloroform and DMF/chloroform mixed solvent systems, and as a pyridine-mediated process in pyridine alone.

Tungsten(VI) Complex of N-Fused Porphyrin Absorbing Near-Infrared Light beyond 1000 nm.

Incorporating tungsten into the N3 core of a N-fused porphyrin (NFP; 1) affords high-valent tungsten(VI)-NFP complexes, WClO2 -1 and 21-chlorinated WClO2 -3. The X-ray structure of WClO2 -1 reveals a distorted octahedral geometry with sitting atop metal coordination. The absorption spectrum of WClO2 -1 displays bathochromically shifted Q-like bands beyond 1000 nm, indicating an inherently narrow HOMO-LUMO energy gap. DFT calculations show that the degeneracy of the LUMO and LUMO+1 pair of 1 is significantly resolved by the tungsten(VI) coordination. Conclusively, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry provide a rationale for the narrow HOMO-LUMO energy gap in the "16-electron" d0 tungsten(VI)-NFP complexes.

Switch-ON Near IR Fluorescent Dye Upon Protonation: Helically Twisted Bis(Boron Difluoride) Complex of π-Extended Corrorin.

A novel helically twisted π-extended corrorin derivative having two boron dipyrrin (BODIPY) moieties at the periphery, a BODIPY DYEmer (6-BF2 ) cross-bridged with π-conjugated dipyrrinylidene unit, was synthesized and characterized. The neutral 6-BF2 is nonfluorescent due to the internal photoinduced charge transfer (CT) character in the excited state as inferred from the femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. However, upon protonation, the CT process is suppressed and the species H6-BF2+ becomes near infrared (IR) emissive. With the aid of rigid helical conformations in 6-BF2 , the helical isomers (P- and M-forms) were resolved and their chiroptical property was investigated. The distinct circular dichroism (CD) spectral changes of the enantiomers were observed in the presence of acids, which demonstrates that 6-BF2 can be utilized for potential acid-responsive chiroptical materials.

Stereoretentive Ligand Exchange Reactions of N-Fused Porphyrin Ruthenium(II) Complexes.

The ligand exchange reactions of the ruthenium(II) complex of N-fused tetraphenylporphyrin, Ru(NFp)(CO)2Cl (2), with various anions were investigated. The chloride ligand of the isomers 2a-c was stereoretentively exchanged with bromide (Br-), iodide (I-), and acetate (AcO-) anions in toluene at 100 °C, structures of which were confirmed by 1H NMR as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The silver (AgOAc, AgOTf) and boron (NaBPh4) reagents also afforded the corresponding stereoretentive products. On the other hand, the reaction with NaBH4 afforded the hydride complex Ru(NFp)(CO)2H (7) with low stereospecificity, showing a higher reactivity of 2c than other isomers. The ligand dissociation mechanism was proposed with the help of theoretical calculations on the plausible five-coordinated intermediates.

Tautomerism-Induced Cis-Trans Isomerization of Pyridylethenyl N-Confused Porphyrin.

Pyridylethenyl-substituted N-confused porphyrins (NCPs) were synthesized, and their cis-trans isomerization was studied. Among four possible isomers, trans-3H and cis-2H types of structures, of which aromaticity and absorption/emission properties differ largely, were isolated. The cis-isomer was largely stabilized by the intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the pyrrolic-NH and the pyridinic-N in the vicinity. The thermal cis-trans isomerization proceeded even at 30 °C, which was significantly accelerated by the pyridine added to the system. The kinetic studies revealed that the isomerization reaction was second-order and the activation energy of the thermal isomerization from cis to trans isomer was ΔG0⧧cis→trans = 35.7 kcal/mol at 298 K, which is significantly smaller than that of Ni complex (42.3 kcal/mol). An intermolecular proton transfer induced cis-trans isomerization mechanism was proposed.

Boron Difluoride Complexes of Expanded N-Confused Calix[n]phyrins That Demonstrate Unique Luminescent and Lasing Properties.

Complexation of novel multiply N-confused expanded calix[n]phyrins with boron difluoride afforded a new class of cyclic BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene) arrays. The structures of circularly arranged BODIPY subunits linked in an N-confused fashion give rise to such photophysical properties unique to the macrocycles as redshifted emission wavelengths along with apparent large Stokes shifts, long emission lifetimes, and solid-state lasing. The DFT calculations support the size-dependent excited-state dynamics of the macrocycles.

Near-Infrared Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Benzonorrole Complexes Possessing Pyridine-based Axial Ligands.

Novel near-infrared phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes based on benzo-annulated N-linked corrole analogue (termed as benzonorrole) were synthesized. The structures of the complexes revealed octahedral coordination geometries involving an organometallic iridium-carbon bond with two external axial ligands. Interestingly, the iridium(III) complex exhibits near-infrared phosphorescence at room temperature at wavelengths beyond 900 nm. The significant redshift of the emission, as compared to the corrole congener, is originated from the ligand-centered triplet character. The fine-tuning of the photophysical properties of the complexes was achieved by introducing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents on the axial pyridine ligands.

Ruthenocene-Type Complexes of N-Fused Porphyrins.

Ruthenocene-type hybrid complexes with N-fused porphyrinato ligands, [Ru(NFp)Cp] (NFp=N-fused porphyrin, Cp=cyclopentadienyl), have been prepared and characterized by NMR and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy, cyclovoltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. [Ru(NFp)Cp] is a common low-spin ruthenium(II) complex and shows strong aromaticity. The Ru-Cp distance (1.833 Å) in [Ru(NFp)Cp] is comparable to that in [RuCp2 ] (1.840 Å). DFT calculations on [Ru(NFp)Cp] showed the unequivocal contribution of the RuCp moiety as well as the NFp moiety to both the HOMO and LUMO, constructing a three-dimensional d-π conjugated system. The HOMO-LUMO gaps of [Ru(NFp)Cp] are insensitive to the substituents on the NFp ligand, which is illustrated spectroscopically as well as theoretically. This is in sharp contrast to the ligand precursor, the N-fused porphyrin, in which the HOMO-LUMO gap is affected by substituents in a similar manner to standard porphyrins and related macrocycles.

Theoretical study on the conformation and aromaticity of regular and singly N-confused [28]hexaphyrins.

Structures and electronic states of regular and singly N-confused [28]hexaphyrins(1.1.1.1.1.1) were thoroughly studied with the aid of DFT calculations. To obtain systematic information, all the conceivable structures (450 structures in total) were examined. Unlike the [26]hexaphyrins(1.1.1.1.1.1) reported previously (J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 8213-8223), the electronic states of [28]hexaphyrins were highly affected by their conformations. The planar conformers (dumbbell, rectangular, triangular) show Hückel antiaromaticity, while the singly twisted conformers show Möbius aromaticity. Figure-eight structures correspond to the doubly twisted structures and show nonaromaticity. Disruption of annulenic circuits in singly N-confused [28]hexaphyrins caused weakening of both aromatic and antiaromatic characteristics. Relative stabilities among conformers were mainly governed by the intramolecular hydrogen bonds and secondarily affected by the steric factors. In addition, interconversion pathways among conformers were proposed on the basis of calculations on singly N-confused [28]hexaphyrins.

Synthesis and isomerization of N-fused tetraphenylporphyrin ruthenium(II) complexes.

Three possible isomers of N-fused tetraphenylporphyrin ruthenium complexes, Ru(NFTPp)Cl(CO)2 (2a-c), were isolated and fully characterized by NMR, IR, CV, UV-vis-NIR absorption, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. Each isomer was stable at ambient conditions and isomerization among 2a-c occurred at elevated temperature both in solution and in a solid state, through the intramolecular rotational pathways. Electronic structures of 2a-c were analyzed in detail by DFT study to reveal appreciable differences in the interaction between the NFTPp ligand and the Ru-Cl moiety.

Corrole isomers: intrinsic gas-phase shapes via traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry and dissociation chemistries via tandem mass spectrometry.

Corrole and four of its isomers with subtle structural changes promoted by exchange of nitrogen and carbon atoms in the corrole ring have been studied by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry and collision induced dissociation experiments. Significant differences in shapes and charge distributions for their protonated molecules were found to lead to contrasting gas phase mobilities, most particularly for corrorin, the most "confused" isomer. Accordingly, corrorin was predicted by B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) and collisional cross section calculations to display the most compact tri-dimensional structure, whereas NCC4 and corrole were found to be the most planar isomers. Better resolution between the corrole isomers was achieved using the more polarizable and massive CO(2) as the drift gas. Sequential losses of HF molecules were found to dominate the dissociation chemistry of the protonated molecules of these corrole isomers, but their unique structures caused contrasting labilities towards CID, whereas NCC4 showed a peculiar and structurally diagnostic loss of NH(3), allowing its prompt differentiation from the other isomers.

Cooperation between metal and ligand in oxygen atom transport by N-confused porphyrin oxorhenium(V) complexes.

N-Confused porphyrin oxorhenium(V) complexes were prepared and their X-ray structures were elucidated. The oxorhenium(V) complexes can transfer oxygen atom from pyridine N-oxide to triphenylphosphine, in which unique cooperation between metal and ligand was observed.

Regulation of NH-tautomerism in N-confused porphyrin by N-alkylation.

A variety of internally N-alkylated N-confused porphyrins were prepared in a stepwise manner through the protection of the reactive peripheral nitrogen atom. NH-Tautomerism in N-confused porphyrins was found to be regulated by N-alkylation, which enabled us to obtain discrete information on two important NH-tautomers of an N-confused porphyrin.

Confusion of Möbius aromaticity: disruption of annulenic pathway in singly N-confused [28]hexaphyrin and its mono-Pd(II) complex.

Singly N-confused [26] and [28]hexaphyrins (4, 5) with planar and twisted structures, respectively, were prepared via the acid catalyzed [3 + 3] condensation of N-confused and regular tripyrrane precursors. Hückel aromaticity is observed for [26]hexaphyrin, while the [28]hexaphyrin and its mono-Pd(II) complex exhibit "nonaromaticity" in spite of their Möbius-type structures, judging from the spectroscopic features and theoretical calculations.

Synthesis and reactivity of 5,10,15-triaryl doubly N-confused bilanes.

A series of 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl) doubly N-confused bilanes were synthesized in a stepwise manner with the aid of sterically demanding N-protecting groups, in which the difference in reactivity between regular pyrrole and N-confused pyrrole plays a crucial role in the synthetic strategy. Some doubly N-confused bilanes were converted into porphyrinoids or a unique 2:2 copper(II) complex with a helical structure. In addition, the conformations and electronic states of the doubly N-confused bilanes were investigated theoretically, giving fruitful information about the effect of confusion on the bilane skeleton.

Blooming of confused porphyrinoids--fusion, expansion, contraction, and more confusion.

This article introduces an overview of progressively developing chemistry of N-confused porphyrin and related macrocycles. Study on confusion results in discovery of fusion and combination with expansion or contraction has provided uniquely important classes of porphyrinoids. Syntheses, properties and coordination chemistry of such porphyrinoids are briefly described. Possibilities in applications are also mentioned.

C-fused norrole: a fused corrole isomer bearing a N,C-linked bipyrrole unit.

Oxidative cyclization of a doubly N-confused bilane afforded a N-confused N,C-linked corrole (N-confused norrole), which was readily oxidized to form a C-fused N,C-linked corrole (C-fused norrole).