Cyclization of a pentapyrrane with two terminal β-linked pyrroles afforded a dihydrosapphyrin isomer (1) with the pyrroles linked in a unique β,α-α,β mode, which was rather reactive, and thus it readily underwent a ring-contracted rearrangement to a pyrrolyl norrole (2), and succeeding ring expansion to a terpyrrole-containing isosmaragdyrin analogue (4). 1, 2, and 4 contain the internal ring pathways with a minimum of 17, 15, and 16 atoms, respectively. 1, 2, and 4 are almost nonfluorescent, whereas the complex of 2 with Zn(2+) shows a distinct NIR emission peak at 741 nm. The unprecedented pyrrole transformation chemistry by confusion approach is illustrated.

The first neo-confused hexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.0) was synthesized by oxidative ring closure of a hexapyrrane bearing two terminal "confused" pyrroles. The new compound displays a folded conformation with a short interpyrrolic C⋅⋅⋅N distance of 3.102 Å, and thus it readily underwent ring fusion to afford a neo-fused hexaphyrin with an unprecedented 5,5,5,7-tetracyclic ring structure. Furthermore, coordination of Cu(II) triggered a ring opening/contracting reaction to afford a Cu(II) complex of an N-linked pentaphyrin derivative. The roles of reactive N-C bonds in the porphyrinoid macrocycles were demonstrated.

Three kinds of fused porphyrinoids, L2-L4, possessing different types of corrole-based frameworks were synthesized from a pyrrole-substituted corrole isomer (norrole L1). Oxidation of L1 afforded a unique N-Cmeso -fused pyrrolyl isonorrole L2, involving the fusion of an auxiliary pyrrolic NH moiety with a meso-sp(3) -hybridized carbon atom. Subsequently, L2 underwent macrocycle transformations to give singly and doubly N-CAr -fused N-confused corroles, L3 and L4, respectively. L3 and L4 contain fused [5.7.6.5]-tetra- and [5.6.7.7.6.5]-hexacyclic structures, respectively, prepared through lateral annulation. These skeletal transformation reactions from norrole to its isomer isonorrole and finally to N-confused corrole indicate that multiply fused porphyrinoids could be readily synthesized from pyrrole-appended confused porphyrinoids.

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A C6F5-substituted hexapyrrane (1) was synthesized in one step. Oxidative cyclization of 1 with DDQ afforded a phlorin-dipyrrin conjugate (2), and subsequent FeCl3-assisted oxidative cleavage of 2 afforded a terminally di-α-methoxy substituted hexapyrrin (3). On the other hand, oxidation of 1 with FeCl3 afforded 3, a hexapyrrinone Fe(3+) complex (4), and a hexaphyrin (1,1,1,1,1,0) (5). These results indicate that the oxidation of hexapyrranes may be developed as an effective approach for the syntheses of novel linear and macrocyclic hexapyrroles.