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1.1 Porphyrins - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

1.1 Porphyrins - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

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3 Discussion and Results<br />

3.2.2.1.2 An Alternative Route Using Cyanide<br />

Another approach to carboxylic acids involves nitrile precursors which can be introduced via<br />

cyanides. This alternative seemed to be adequate since cyanide is a good nucleophile, which<br />

could be saponified to the corresponding carboxylic acid. Thus, o-(cyanomethyl) porphyrin<br />

system 50 has been the logical sub-ordinate target:<br />

36<br />

Br<br />

N<br />

NH HN<br />

N<br />

S N reaction<br />

Scheme 27. Formation of sub-ordinate target 50.<br />

NC<br />

N<br />

NH HN<br />

N<br />

According to literature, the substitution of the benzylic bromide can be managed by reaction<br />

with NaCN or KCN in DMF at elevated temperature. 94 Correspondingly, free base<br />

bromomethyl porphyrin 45 has been treated for 12 h. After acidic work-up, a crude product<br />

material was obtained which consisted of the desired cyanomethyl porphyrin 50 being<br />

accompanied by two by-products, which were identified as the corresponding<br />

hydroxymethyl porphyrin and as the (N,N-dimethylamino)methyl porphyrin derivative.<br />

Repeating the experiment showed that the formation of these by-products, which arose<br />

from water and free amine in the used DMF, could not be suppressed. Nevertheless, the<br />

desired sub-ordinate target 50 could be obtained in pure after (repeated) FC in yields<br />

ranging between 60 % and 84 %.<br />

45 50<br />

To eliminate side reactions originating from the used solvent DMF, other reaction media<br />

have been considered. Typical organic solvents like THF or chlorinated solvents are well<br />

suited since the porphyrin precursor 45 is concerned, but fail in dissolving the salt providing<br />

the nucleophile. So crown ethers would have to be used or biphasic mixtures of solvents<br />

have to be applied together with phase transfer catalysts. That problem drew our attention<br />

to polyethylene glycols (PEGs) being capable to act as appropriate solvents as well as to<br />

efficiently complex alkali metal cations and thus enhance the substitution reaction. 95

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