Synthesis of β-di and tribromoporphyrins and the crystal structures of antipodal tri-substituted Zn(II)-porphyrins

Bromination of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin, H2TPP with controlled amounts of N-bromosuccinimide at ambient conditions in CHCl3 produced β-dibromo and tribromotetraphenylporphyrins. The regiochemistry of the ZnTPPR3 (R = Br, Ph) complexes indicate the antipodal substitution at the β-pyrrole positions.