Subporphyrins: emerging contracted porphyrins with aromatic 14π-electronic systems and bowl-shaped structures: rational and unexpected synthetic routes

Subporphyrin is a ring-contracted porphyrin congener consisting of three pyrrolic subunits domed in a C3 symmetric bowl arrangement. Subporphyrin had long been elusive until the first synthesis of tribenzosubporphine in 2006. Shortly after, synthetic protocols of subpyriporphyrin, meso-aryl-substituted subporphyrins, and meso-aryl substituted subchlorins were developed. Subporphyrins display interesting properties including distinct aromaticity arising from 14pi-electronic conjugation, green fluorescence, and strong influences of meso-aryl substituents on the electronic network of the macrocycle. Besides the rational synthetic routes, an unexpected route to a specific subporphyrin from a [32]heptaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1) was discovered via a thermal extrusion reaction upon Cu(II)-B(III) cooperative metallation. In this Perspective, we review recent progress on subporphyrin chemistry and unprecedented ring-splitting reactions of medium size expanded porphyrins that are triggered upon metallation.