Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Bis(thiadiazolo)benzoporphyrinoids: Insights into the Properties of Porphyrin-Type Systems with Strongly Electron-Withdrawing β,β’-Fused Rings

A series of porphyrinoids fused to highly electron-withdrawing bis(thiadiazolo)benzene units have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized. These structures have modified chromophores and exhibit large bathochromic shifts. The nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc complexes of a bis(thiadiazolo)benzoporphyrin were prepared, and these showed strong absorptions above 600 nm that shifted to longer wavelengths with increasing atomic number for the coordinated metal cations. Although the investigated porphyrinoids were poorly soluble, proton NMR data could be obtained, and these demonstrated that the structures possess global aromatic character. This was confirmed with nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations and anisotropy of induced current density (AICD) plots. The AICD plots also demonstrate that the fused heterocyclic unit is disconnected from the porphyrinoid <i>π</i>-system, and in this respect, it differs from phenanthroline-fused porphyrinoids as it shows the presence of extended conjugation pathways.