Synthesis of meso-substituted dipyrromethanes using iodine-catalysis

This Letter presents a non-conventional synthesis of meso-substituted dipyrromethanes, using molecular iodine as the catalyst. Various aromatic dipyrromethanes were obtained in good yields after a preliminary study using nitrobenzaldehyde. The reactants and reagents were used as such, without prior distillation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.