Compared to porphyrin, its isomeric, expanded, and contracted analogues are less well explored. This contrast is found to be even more drastic in the case of their peripherally annulated counterparts. Nevertheless, the chemistry of annulated isomeric, expanded, and contracted porphyrins started flourishing recently with considerable efforts over the past few years, as evidenced by an increasing number of publications. While keeping the essence of porphyrins, these annulated versions exhibit quite unique properties that have no precedence in their nonannulated counterparts. An in-depth update of research carried out so far in this emerging area will be presented in this review.

Naphthobipyrrole-derived porphycenes are synthesized for the first time via McMurry coupling of the β-alkylated 2,9-diformylnaphthobipyrrole derivatives, which in turn were prepared easily from 2,3-naphthalene bishydrazine in four steps. Insertion of nickel into the porphycene core results in transformation of the rectangular N4-core into a square type geometry owing to the fusion of naphthalene moiety onto the bipyrrole entities. These porphycenes show large, intensity dependent three-photon absorption.

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) processes are among the most important phenomena that control a variety of chemical and biological transformations. Although extensively studied in a variety of natural systems and discrete metal complexes, PCET mechanisms are less well codified in the case of purely organic compounds. Here we report that a planar β,β'-phenylene-bridged hexaphyrin (1.0.1.0.1.0), a 24 π-electron antiaromatic species termed rosarin, displays unique redox reactivity on protonation. Specifically, treatment with acid (for example, HI) yields a 26 π-electron aromatic triprotonated monocationic species that is produced spontaneously via an intermediate-but stable-25 π-electron non-aromatic triprotonated monoradical dication. This latter species is also produced on treatment of the original 24 π-electron antiaromatic starting material with HCl or HBr. The stepwise nature of the proton-coupled reduction observed in the planar rosarin stands in marked contrast to that seen for non-annulated rosarins and other ostensibly antiaromatic expanded porphyrinoids.

Synthesis of a novel π-extended BODIPY derived from naphthobipyrrole is presented. This dye molecule displays very intense near-infrared (NIR) absorption (ε > 400,000 M(-1) cm(-1)) and emission bands (>700 nm), accompanied by high quantum yield (φf = 0.65) owing to its extended π-conjugation along with imposed structural rigidification.

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is an important chemical and biological phenomenon. It is attractive as an on-off switching mechanism for redox-active synthetic systems but has not been extensively exploited for this purpose. Here we report a core-modified planar weakly antiaromatic/nonaromatic octaphyrin, namely, a [32]octaphyrin(1.0.1.0.1.0.1.0) (1) derived from rigid naphthobipyrrole and dithienothiophene (DTT) precursors, that undergoes proton-coupled two-electron reduction to produce its aromatic congener in the presence of HCl and other hydrogen halides. Evidence for the production of a [4 n + 1] π-electron intermediate radical state is seen in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid. Electrochemical analyses provide support for the notion that protonation causes a dramatic anodic shift in the reduction potentials of octaphyrin 1, thereby facilitating electron transfer from halide anions (viz. I, Br, and, Cl). Electron-rich molecules, such as tetrathiafulvene (TTF), phenothiazine (PTZ), and catechol, were also found to induce PCET in the case of 1. Both the oxidized and two-electron reduced forms of 1 were characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses in the solid state and in solution via spectroscopic means.