On the Preparation of Nickel Porphyrins Bearing Two to Four Nitro Groups at <i><b>β</b></i>‐Positions

The preparation, isolation, and identification of dinitro, trinitro, and tetranitro metalloporphyrins bearing nitro groups on pyrrole rings—desirable intermediates that enable fundamental changes in the chemico‐physical properties of the porphyrin core—are studied. All six possible dinitro‐Ni‐TPP isomers are formed; three are isolated as pure substances using column chromatography, while the remaining three are inseparable. All possible trinitro‐Ni‐TPP isomers are prepared and isolated, except for the 2,7,13 isomer. Attempts to synthesize tetranitro‐Ni‐TPP either through direct nitration of metalloporphyrin or via direct condensation of the nitropyrrole building blocks are unsuccessful. The molecular structures are unambiguously identified using 2D NMR experiments. Some experimental observations, though not all, are consistent with quantum chemical calculations performed on the geometry, energy, Fukui indices, dipole moments of nitroporphyrins, and the energy of nitration intermediates.