“…The four atropisomers of meso-tetra(6 methyl-N-methyl-2-pyridyl) porphine were synthesized via standard procedures (16) by refluxing 3-methyl-2-pyridine carboxaldehyde (17) with pyrrole in propionic acid. Following workup, the four atropisomers were separated on silica gel using CH2C12/CH3OH as an The toluene-pyridinium series of compounds meso-a,B,7-tritolyl-6-(Nmethyl-4-pyridiniumyl)porphine, 1+, meso-a,B ditolyl-y,6-di(N-methyl-4-pyridiniumyl)porphine, cis-2+, meso-ac,r-ditolyl-Q,6-di(N-methyl-4-pyridiniumyl)porphine, trans-2+ and meso-a-tolyl-Q,y,6-tri(N-methyl-4-pyridiniumyl)porphine, 3+, were synthesized using the mixed aldehyde method (19).…”