Synthesis and Switching the Aromatic Character of Oxatriphyrins(2.1.1)

Abstract

Triangularly shaped, contracted porphyrinoids belong to a group of molecules where the geometry significantly modifies the observed electronic properties. The need for a controllable, effective, and widely applicable approach to triphyrins drives extensive research towards macrocyclic materials that act as potential controlling motifs by switching their aromaticity. Two isomeric thiophene-fused triphyrins(2.1.1) were synthesized by applying an innovative approach. Spectroscopic techniques (NMR, UV/Vis) show that both macrocycles are aromatic and quantitatively convert into anti-aromatic structures after reduction with a zinc amalgam. The reduced forms were stabilized through boron(III) coordination, thereby allowing the observation of anti-aromatic 16 π delocalization within a contracted porphyrin.