Synthetic porphyrins. I. Synthesis and spectra of some para‐substituted meso ‐ Tetraphenylporphines

A series of derivatives of meso ‐tetraphenylporphine, with neutral, acidic and basic functional groups, has been prepared. Several of these compounds were synthesized directly via the Rothemund reaction, under a variety of conditions to obtain optimal yields; others were prepared by interconversions of various functional groups. Drastic reaction conditions employed for hydrolysis, alcoholysis, or lithium aluminum hydride reduction did not affect the porphine ring system. The two amino derivatives showed anomalous spectra in the visible range.