Synthesis of Vinylene-Co,N-Linked Multi(porphyrin)s by the Addition of Free-Base Porphyrins to a C(2)H(2) Complex of Cobalt(III) Porphyrin and Their Oxidative Rearrangement to Vinylene-N,N'-Linked Multi(porphyrin)s.

The nucleophilic addition reaction of a pyrrole nitrogen of free-base porphyrins to a pi-complexed acetylene ligand in a cationic Co(III) porphyrin intermediate afforded good yields of vinylene-Co,N'-linked bis(porphyrin)s, (Por)Co(III)-CH=CH-(N-Por)H(2). N-substituted porphyrin free bases are N-vinylated regioselectively at the pyrrole adjacent to the original N-substituted pyrrole in this reaction. Tris- and tetrakis(porphyrin)s have been prepared by reacting a vinylene-N,N'-linked bis(meso-tetraarylporphyrin) with (OEP)Co(III)(H(2)O)(2)ClO(4) (OEP: octaethylporphyrin dianion) and acetylene.