Round the twist: Metalation of [36]octaphyrin 1 provided the Möbius aromatic Pd2 complex 3 as well as the Hückel antiaromatic Pd2 complex 2. This method can be applied to other expanded porphyrins and Group 10 metal ions. The aromatic/antiaromatic character was supported by NMR spectrscopy, NICS calculation, and two‐photon absorption measurements.

A strong correlation among calculated Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shift (NICS) values, molecular planarity, and the observed two-photon absorption (TPA) values was found for a series of closely matched expanded porphyrins. The expanded porphyrins in question consisted of [26]hexaphyrin, [28]hexaphyrin, rubyrin, amethyrin, cyclo[6]pyrrole, cyclo[7]pyrrole, and cyclo[8]pyrrole containing 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 pi-electrons. Two of the systems, [28]hexaphyrin and amethyrin, were considered to be antiaromatic as judged from a simple application of Hückel's [4n + 2] rule. These systems displayed positive NICS(0) values (+43.5 and +17.1 ppm, respectively) and gave rise to TPA values of 2600 and 3100 GM, respectively. By contrast, a set of congeners containing 22, 26, and 30 pi-electrons (cyclo[n]pyrrole, n = 6, 7, and 8, respectively) were characterized by a linear correlation between the NICS and TPA values. In the case of the oligopyrrolic macrocycles containing 26 pi-electron systems, a further correlation between the molecular structure and various markers associated with aromaticity was seen. In particular, a decrease in the excited state lifetimes and an increase in the TPA values were seen as the flexibility of the systems increased. Based on the findings presented here, it is proposed that various readily measurable optical properties, including the two-photon absorption cross-section, can provide a quantitative experimental measure of aromaticity in macrocyclic pi-conjugated systems.

Extending conjugation: Azulene‐fused porphyrins (see example) are synthesized through the oxidation of meso‐(4‐azulenyl)porphyrins with FeCl3. The azulene‐fused strategy allowed highly π‐conjugated porphyrinic electronic systems, which are promising two‐photon absorption pigments, to be realized.

Recently, covalently linked or self-assembled porphyrin array systems have attracted much attention for their enhanced two-photon absorption (TPA) behaviors. In this study, we have investigated the TPA properties of various dihedral angle controlled, directly linked porphyrin dimers and arrays to elucidate the relationship between the pi-conjugation pathway and TPA properties. We have demonstrated a strong correlation between pi-conjugation (aromaticity) and TPA properties in porphyrin assemblies.