Synthesis of styrene, phenyl acrylate and allyloxyphenyl-functionalized porphyrins, and preliminary exploration of their utility for assembling multiple porphyrin units

Three free-base and two Zn(II) porphyrins carrying one alkene-substituted meso-aryl group and three solubilizing pentyl groups were prepared via mixed aldehyde-type syntheses. A meso p-allyloxyphenyl porphyrin was obtained via the corresponding 5-(p-allyloxyphenyl) dipyrromethane. The porphyrins were fully characterized using a combination of NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and UV-Vis absorption and emission spectroscopies. Two of the free-base porphyrins were heated in the presence of AIBN or benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The major isolated products of these reactions contained two porphyrin units based on the results of MALDI-MS and H-1 NMR analysis data, which was supported by the results of FTIR, UV-Vis absorption and emission spectroscopies, and gel permeation and liquid chromatographies. Additionally, the acrylamide-functionalized porphyrin could be attached to a polylysine scaffold under basic conditions. These results suggest that the olefinic handle can be used to assemble structures containing multiple porphyrinic macrocycles.