1.1 Porphyrins - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
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