Synthesis of Subporphyrin Free Bases.

B subporphyrins are the legitimate ring-contracted porphyrins consisting of three pyrroles and three meso-carbons and their chemistry has been extensively developed since the first synthesis in 2006. However, subporphyrin free bases have never been synthesized, despite tremendous attempts to remove the B ion. Here we report that Suzuki-Miyaura coupling between α,α'-diborylated tripyrrane 1 and tetrabromide 5 gave subporphyrin free bases 6, 6 A, and free base dimer 7 in 6 %, 4 %, and 2 % yields as the first examples. Subporphyrin free bases exhibit curved bowl-like structures and distinct 14π-aromaticity. Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy revealed that the excited-state behaviors of the subporphyrin free bases are comparable with those of the corresponding B subporphyrins. Rotational relaxation processes in the excited states have been revealed, which enhance the electronic interactions with the meso-aryl substituents and between the two subporphyrins.