Free base octaethylporphyrin (OEP) was converted, in two steps (β,β′-dihydroxylation, oxidative diol cleavage with concomitant aldol condensation), to the corresponding oxypyriporphyrin. This conversion was previously described to be only applicable to the Ni(II) complex of OEP. Modified diol cleavage conditions made this reaction sequence now applicable to free base OEP. The single crystal structure of the resulting free base oxypyriporphyrin was determined, proving its near-perfect planarity. The reaction sequence can also be applied to oxypyriporphyrin itself, generating the unprecedented bacteriochlorin-type bis-oxypyriporphyrin as two separable isomers. The ground state (UV/Vis and fluorescence) and excited state (transient triplet-triplet absorption, triplet lifetimes, and triplet EPR) photophysical properties of all chromophores are described and contrasted against OEP, chlorins, and oxochlorins. The pyridone-modified porphyrins possess unique spectroscopic signatures that distinguish them from regular porphyrins or chlorins. The presence of the pyridone moiety alters the ESI+ collision-induced fragmentation properties of these oxypyriporphyrins only to a minor degree when compared to those of OEP or chlorins, attesting to their stability.