2
F. MANDOJ ET AL.
complementary absorptions of individual chromophores,
covering a large part of the visible spectrum; moreover, it
ispossibletoexploittheinteraction, whenpresent, through
photo-induced electron and/or energy transfer pathways.
These systems are interesting in view of their unique
photoelectronic properties and potential applications as
mimics of light-harvesting systems in photosynthesis, as
electron energy transfer moieties in molecular wires, as
sensing materials and PDT [7–16].
Examples of porphyrin-phthalocyanine arrays have
been reported in the literature, with different bridging
units [17, 18]. In this field, we have been interested
in the establishment of synthetic routes where two or
more porphyrin units are annulated at their b-pyrrolic
positions. In these compounds, the p-aromatic system is
extended all over the molecules, resulting in significant
changes in the UV-visible spectra, with new absorption
bands featuring red shifts reaching the NIR region. In
this pathway, we have reported the preparation of a star-
shaped planar array, where four porphyrins were fused
onto a central tetrabenzoporphyrin unit [19].
0.11 mmol) and a catalytic amount of DBU were added.
The mixture was heated to reflux, under N2, for 24 h,
following the progress of the reaction by TLC analysis
and UV-visible spectroscopy. After evaporation of the
solvent, the crude product was purified on a silica gel
chromatography column, eluting with dichloromethane.
Only one fraction was isolated, collected and crystallized
from dichloromethane/methanol, affording 2 (13 mg,
0.015 mmol; 21%); mp >300°C. UV-vis (CH2Cl2):
lmax, nm (log e) 406 (4.39), 440 (5.01), 565 (4.21), 604
(4.09). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d, ppm 8.95 (m, 5 H,
b-pyrroles), 8.83 (d, J = 4.77, 1 H, b-pyrroles), 8.22
(m, 4 H, phenyls), 8.09 (m, 4 H, phenyls), 7.79 (m, 4 H,
phenyls), 4.10 (m, 2 H, –O–CH2(CH2)3CH3), 3.20 (m, 4 H,
–O–CH2(CH2)3CH3), 1.79 (m, 2 H, –O–CH2(CH2)3CH3),
1.03 (m, 3 H, –O–CH2(CH2)3CH3). MS (FAB): m/z 841
[M]+. Anal. calcd. for C52H37N7OZn: C, 74.24; H, 4.43;
N, 11.65. Found C, 74.47; H, 4.61; N, 11.10%.
Preparation of cyanopyrazinoporphyrin deriva-
tives (compounds 4 and 5). Zn-dioxo-porphyrin complex
3 (80 mg; 0.11 mmol) was dissolved in a solution of
dichloromethane/ethanol/acetic acid (5:5:1) (22 mL)
and an excess of 4,5-diaminophthalonitrile (190 mg;
1.19 mmol) was added. The resulting solution was
refluxed for 3 h, following the progress of the reaction
by TLC analysis and UV-visible spectroscopy. After
evaporation of the solvent, the crude product was purified
on a silica gel chromatography column, eluting with
dichloromethane. Two fractions were collected and
crystallized from dichloromethane/methanol affording,
in order of elution, porphyrin 5 (16 mg, 0.018 mmol;
16%) and 4 (56 mg, 0.068 mmol; 60%). 4. mp > 300°C.
UV-vis (CH2Cl2): lmax, nm (log e) 426 (5.41), 484 (4.63),
We have been interested to investigate the preparation of
a similar system, where the central unit is a phthalocyanine
ring. In this paper, we report a general method for the
synthesis of dicyano porphyrinoid derivatives, and their
potential application as precursors for the preparation of a
more sophisticated architecture endowed with an extended
aromatic system, based on a fused phthalocyanine-
porphyrins oligomer.
EXPERIMENTAL
1
596 (4.07), 644 (3.92). H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d,
General
ppm 8.97 (s, 4 H, b-pyrroles), 8.88 (s, 2 H, b-pyrroles),
8.48 (s, 2 H, quinoxaline), 8.22 (4 H, phenyls), 8.12 (4 H,
phenyls), 7.96 (m, 2 H, phenyls), 7.80 (m, 10 H, phenyls).
MS (FAB): m/z 884 [M]+. Anal. calcd. for C52H28N8Zn:
C, 75.23; H, 3.40; N, 13.50. Found C, 75.45; H, 3.61;
N, 12.10%. 5. mp > 300°C. UV-vis (CH2Cl2): lmax, nm
(log e) 419 (5.57), 469 (4.85), 583 (4.27), 630 (4.19).
1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d, ppm 8.95 (m, 4 H,
b-pyrroles), 8.87 (s, 2 H, b-pyrroles), 8.38 (s, 1 H,
quinoxaline), 8.28 (s, 1 H, quinoxaline), 8.22 (4 H,
phenyls), 8.11 (4 H, phenyls), 7.93 (m, 2 H, phenyls),
7.80 (m, 10 H, phenyls). MS (FAB): m/z 831 [M]+. Anal.
calcd. for C51H28BrN7Zn: C, 69.28; H, 3.19; N, 11.09.
Found C, 68.91; H, 3.16; N, 11.73%.
Preparation of tetraporphyrinphthalocyanine 6. A
suspension of magnesium turnings (175 mg, 7.2 mmol) in
n-butanol (50 mL) was heated to reflux, under N2, for 4 h
using small crystal of iodine to initiate the reaction. Once
cooled, this suspension was poured, under an atmosphere
of nitrogen, into a flask containing the dicyanopirazino
derivative 4 (40 mg, 0.057 mmol) and an excess of zinc
acetate, and the mixture was heated again; finally, a
catalytic amount of DBU was added and the mixture was
Silica gel 60 (70–230 mesh, SigmaAldich) was used for
column chromatography. Reagents and solvents (Aldrich,
Merck or Fluka) were of the highest grade available
1
and were used without further purification. H NMR
spectra were recorded on a Bruker AV300 (300 MHz)
spectrometer. Chemical shifts are given in ppm relative
to residual CHCl3 (7.25 ppm). UV-visible spectra were
measured on a Cary 50 spectrophotometer. Mass spectra
wererecordedonaVGQuattrospectrometerinthepositive-
ion mode, using m-nitrobenzyl alcohol (NBA, Aldrich) as
a matrix (FAB), or on a Voyager DE STR Biospectrometry
workstation in the positive mode, using a-cyano-4-
hydroxycinnamic acid as a matrix (MALDI). Elemental
analysis (C, H, N) were obtained at the Microanalytical
Laboratory of the University of Padova, Italy.
Synthesis
Condensation reaction of Zn-dicyano porphyrin
complex 1. Zn-dicyano porphyrin complex 1 (60 mg;
0.08 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous pentanol,
bubbled with nitrogen, and anhydrous ZnCl2 (15 mg;
Copyright © 2016 World Scientific Publishing Company
J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 2016; 20: 2–8