Electrosynthesis of oligoand polyporphyrins based on oxidative coupling of macrocycles

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to oligo- and polyporphyrin systems obtained from reactions directly involving macrocycles, especially from their oxidized states. Indeed, it is possible to oxidize porphyrin macrocycles, leading successively to p-radical cations and then dications, these species being very reactive. Oxidized porphyrins can either react with nucleophilic groups or couple each other to give oligomers or polymers of porphyrins. This reactivity offers a novel electrochemical pathway to synthesize supramolecular assemblies containing porphyrin macrocycles.