The complexes [Pt(tpp)] (H2tpp=tetraphenylporphyrin), [M(acac)2] (M=Pd, Pt, Hacac=acetylacetone), and [Pd(ba)2] (Hba=benzoylacetone) were co‐crystallized with highly electron‐deficient arene systems to form reverse arene sandwich structures built by π‐hole⋅⋅⋅[MII] (d8M=Pt, Pd) interactions. The adduct [Pt(tpp)]⋅2 C6F6 is monomeric, whereas the diketonate 1:1 adducts form columnar infinity 1D‐stack assembled by simultaneous action of both π‐hole⋅⋅⋅[MII] and C⋅⋅⋅F interactions. The reverse sandwiches are based on noncovalent interactions and calculated ESP distributions indicate that in π‐hole⋅⋅⋅[MII] contacts, [MII] plays the role of a nucleophile.

A two‐step reaction sequence for accessing meso‐(dialkoxyphosphoryl)porphyrins from readily available trans‐A2‐type porphyrins was developed. This approach involves bromination and subsequent palladium‐catalyzed phosphonylation. Optimal conditions for both steps were identified after exploration of various reaction parameters such as solvent, temperature and catalyst. A series of dialkoxyphosphoryl‐substituted A2B‐porphyrins Zn3(a–g) bearing electron‐donating, electron‐withdrawing or sterically bulky substituents at the meso‐aryl groups were prepared in overall yields close to 40 %. These compounds, being air‐stable and soluble in most organic solvents, are valuable synthetic intermediates because they can be readily transformed into functionalized trans‐A2BC‐type porphyrins through regioselective functionalization at the unsubstituted meso position of the macrocycle. Therefore, this approach offers considerable promise for application to the synthesis of trans‐A2BC‐type porphyrins, including water‐soluble derivatives, push‐pull chromophores and bis(porphyrin)s.

The synthesis and structural characterization, both in solution by means of H andP NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies and in the solid state by X-ray diffraction on single crystal, of a series of gallium(III) and indium(III) meso-mono(diethoxyphosphoryl)porphyrins bearing different peripheral substituents as well as the corresponding monoesters and phosphonic acids are reported. This work describes the first example of the X-ray structure of a self-assembled dimer formed via strong binding between the oxygen atom of the phosphonate substituent and the gallium(III) cations of adjacent porphyrin molecules [Ga-O = 1.9708(13) Å].