Synthesis of meso-arylsulfanyl- and alkylsulfanyl-substituted porphyrins via palladium-mediated C-S bond formation.

A family of new meso-arylsulfanyl- and alkylsulfanyl-substituted porphyrins were efficiently synthesized from direct reactions of meso-brominated porphyrins with thiols via palladium-mediated C-S bond formation. The catalytic method can be performed under mild conditions with both mono- and bis-substituted meso-bromoporphyrins as well as their zinc complexes and is suitable for different types of thiols. With the use of selenols, meso-seleno-substituted porphyrins can also be prepared similarly.