Synthesis of nickel(II) azacorroles by Pd-catalyzed amination of α,α'-dichlorodipyrrin Ni(II) complex and their properties.

Synthesis of nickel(II) complexes of meso-aryl-substituted azacorroles was performed by Buchwald-Hartwig amination of a dipyrrin Ni(II) complex with benzylamine through C-N and C-C coupling. The highly planar structure of Ni(II) azacorroles was elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis. (1)H NMR analysis and nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) calculation on Ni(II) azacorrole revealed its distinct aromaticity with [17]triaza-annulene 18π conjugation. In addition, acylation of azacorrole selectively afforded N- and C-acylated azacorroles depending on the reaction conditions, showing the dual reactivity of azacorroles.