title: Synthesis and characterization of beta-trifluoromethyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrins.
abstract: Beta-trifluoromethyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrins were synthesized to investigate the electronic and steric effects of the trifluoromethyl groups on the macrocycle. Preparation of these novel porphyrins was carried out by copper-assisted trifluoromethylation of beta-tetrabromo-meso-tetraphenylporphyrin metal complexes and in situ generated CF3Cu. For comparison, the beta-methyl analogues were also prepared. Analysis of beta-trifluoromethylporphyrins by UV-vis, NMR, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that the electron-withdrawing effects of the trifluoromethyl groups on the antipodal pyrroles required the macrocycle to take a fixed 18pi-electron pathway. UV-vis, CV, and molecular modeling studies suggest that the novel porphyrins are distorted following introduction of trifluoromethyl groups onto the pyrrolic beta-position of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin. The pK(a) difference of beta-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-meso-tetraphenylporphyrin from that of DBU in CH2Cl2, obtained by spectrophotometric titration, affirms that it is one of the most electron-deficient porphyrins so far prepared.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C., V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terazono
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dolphin