From porphyrin benzylphosphoramidate conjugates to the catalytic hydrogenation of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin

Three new porphyrin aminoalkyl dibenzylphosphoramidates were synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of one p-fluorine atom of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TPPF(20)) by primary aminoalkyl dibenzylphosphoramidates. The nucleophilic aromatic substitution was promoted by microwave irradiation in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. Attempts to remove the benzyl groups of the phosphoramidate moiety by hydrogenolysis with 10% Pd/C led to the cleavage of the P–N bond and the reduction of the macrocycle to hydroporphyrin-type derivatives. The extent of the effect of the catalytic hydrogenation to TPPF(20) with 10% Pd/C was then studied with a variety of solvents. The results showed that ethanol/DMF is the solvent of choice to produce chlorin TPCF(20) and an ethanol/DMF/NEt(3) mixture is more adequate to produce isobacteriochlorin (TPIF(20)).