Template-directed synthesis of linear and cyclic butadiyne-linked porphyrin oligomers up to a linear octamer

Efficient syntheses of a cyclic porphyrin dimer, cyclic trimer, cyclic tetramer, linear dimer, linear tetramer, and linear octamer are described. Starting from a zinc porphyrin monomer, simple oligopyridine ligands are used as templates to control oligomerisation by binding to the linear intermediates formed under Glaser–Hay coupling conditions. The oligomeric products have been characterised using FAB, high-resolution electrospray and MALDITOF mass spectrometry.