The first boron complexes
of porphycenes, structural isomers of porphyrin, are reported. They
are synthesized in good yields by reacting the free-base porphycene
ligands with BF3·Et2O through a microwave-assisted
method. Depending on the substituent group of porphycenes, two different
coordination structures, mono- and diboron porphycenes, are obtained
simultaneously. The single crystal structures and DFT calculations
suggest that the boron atom of the monoboron porphycene is favorably
coordinated on the dipyrroethene site, and the regioisomer of diboron
porphycene is of cisoid stereochemistry, which is
more stable than transoid. We also investigate the
protonation behavior of boron porphycene complexes. Diboron porphycene
does not undergo protonation, whereas monoboron porphycene undergoes
protonation at the nonboron coordinating pyrroline site, resulting
in a red shift in both absorption and emission spectra. Protonation
and deprotonation of monoboron porphycene can be reversibly triggered
using acids and bases.