Hexakis porphyrinato benzenes: a new class of porphyrin arrays

A new category of porphyrin array was synthesized through the coupling of six porphyrin moieties to a central benzene core via an ether linkage. The porphyrin supermolecule product has a diameter up to 80 angstroms and a mass of 8.5 kD. In solution, the six porphyrins surrounding the central benzene ring arrange themselves into three groups of offset overlapping dimers, which are rapidly interconverting at room temperature.