Selective formation of either Tröger’s base or spiro Tröger’s base derivatives from [2-aminoporphyrinato(2-)]nickel by choice of reaction conditions

The article reports on the unique manipulation of the acid-catalyzed reaction of [2-aminoporphyrinato(2-)]nickel with formaldehyde to form selectively either the symmetric Tröger’s base or the asymmetric spiro Tröger’s base bis(metalloporphyrin) derivative. The reaction is driven by the choice of acid catalyst, formaldehyde source, and particularly, solvent, to give a mixture of both derivatives in preparative yields of about 90%, or to give selectively one of the derivatives in a yield of about 60%.