Efficient two-step synthesis of face-to-face meso-substituted bis(corrole) dyads

The synthesis of face-to-face meso-substituted bis(corrole) systems was revisited. By using a new synthetic pathway, the reaction was generalized to any type of linker and the yield was considerably increased. The dyads were obtained in yields up to 20% from a dialdehyde linker and dipyrromethane in a one-step reaction. The best reaction conditions required a decreased amount of TFA catalyst (1.4 equiv.) and a large excess of dipyrromethane (up to 8 equiv). Under these conditions, four bis(corrole)s linked by 2,2 '-diphenyl ether, 9,9-dimethylxanthene, anthracene, and dibenzofuran spacers were synthesized.