Synthesis of meso-substituted corroles and porphyrins using iodine as a catalyst

Abstract

Different types of corroles and porphyrins are synthesized from substituted aldehydes and pyrrole. The current synthetic method involves iodine as catalyst and proceeds at room temperature itself. By varying the amounts of reactants (i.e., pyrrole and aldehydes), the corrole and porphyrins were obtained in good to excellent yields. These products were characterized by 1H-NMR, UV-visible, and HRMS techniques. The reaction approach utilizes the readily available pyrrole and substituted aldehydes as starting materials and makes this reaction highly attractive in diversity-oriented synthesis. Different types of porphyrins and corroles are synthesized from substituted aldehydes and pyrrole using iodine as a catalyst and the reaction proceeds at room temperature itself. By varying the amount of reactants (i.e. pyrrole and aldehydes), the porphyrins and corroles are obtained in good to excellent yields.