Recent Advances in Catalyzed Sequential Reactions and the Potential Use of Tetrapyrrolic Macrocycles as Catalysts

Abstract

Complexes of porphyrins and of other similar tetrapyrrolic macrocycles are extensively explored as catalysts for different chemical processes, and the development of solid catalysts for heterogeneous processes using molecules with the ability to act as multifunctional catalysts in one-pot reactions is increasing and can lead to the wider use of this class of molecules as catalysts. This mini review focuses on the application of this class of complexes as catalysts in a variety of sequential one-pot reactions.

Cationic Pyrrolidine/Pyrroline-Substituted Porphyrins as Efficient Photosensitizers against E. coli

“…The particular attention given by the scientific community to porphyrin derivatives is associated with the unique physical, chemical and biological features of these macrocycles, responsible by their success in a wide range of applications [ 1 ]. The relevance of these molecules in catalysis [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ], in the design of chemical sensors [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], solar cells [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], new imaging techniques [ 15 , 16 ] and other biomedical applications [ 17 , 18 ] is corroborated by the high number of interdisciplinary studies published each year involving porphyrin motifs. In the medical field, these derivatives are being considered important partners (the photosensitizer) in photodynamic therapy (PDT), a new approach to treat cancer but also other diseases like atherosclerosis, psoriasis and age-related macular degeneration [ 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Biomimetic Oxidation of Benzofurans with Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Mn(III) Porphyrins

“…The chromatographic purifications were carried out using silica gel 60 F254 from Merck. 1 H NMR spectra (1D and 2D) were recorded on Bruker Avance instruments (Wissembourg, France) operating at a frequency of 300 or 400 MHz for 1 H experiments and 75 or 100 MHz for 13 C experiments, with sample temperatures of 22 °C and using CDCl3 or DMSO-d6 as solvent (Euroisotop). Unless otherwise specified, TMS was used as an internal reference.…”

“…Biomimetic processes are also a convenient alternative for eco-sustainable oxidation processes, since they allow the use of green oxidants, such as H 2 O 2 or O 2 (that afford water as the only by-product), and mild conditions [12][13][14][15][16][17]. This leads to a significant reduction of environmental impact relative to stoichiometric oxidants, such as Cr 2 O 7 2− , MnO 4 − , and dimethyldioxirane (DMD), or milder but expensive oxidants that also generate sub-products, such as m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA), PhIO, ClO − , HSO 5 − , and IO 4 − .…”

The Role of Porphyrinoid Photosensitizers for Skin Wound Healing

“…Porphyrins and analogs are a class of N-heterocyclic macrocycles well-known for their mediation in important biological functions, such as respiration and photosynthesis, but also by their role in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical applications that have high impacts on human life [1][2][3]. Natural tetrapyrrolic macrocycles like heme (iron(II) complex of PP-IX) and chlorophylls (Figure 1), but also the synthetic porphyrins and analogs ones (e.g., benzoporphyrins, chlorins, phthalocyanines) [4,5] are recognized to present unique structural, physicochemical, and photochemical features to be used in the development of dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], (chemo) sensors [14][15][16][17][18][19][20], (photo)catalysts [21][22][23][24][25][26][27], biomarkers [14,28,29] or as therapeutic photosensitizers (PS) [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40], among other applications [1]. The strong absorption usually exhibited by these highly ...…”