Rothemund reaction
The Rothemund reaction is a condensation/oxidation process that converts four pyrroles and four aldehydes into a porphyrin. It is based on work by Paul Rothemund, who first reported it in 1936.[1][2] His techniques underpin more modern synthesis such as those described by Adler and Longo.[3] In solution-phase synthesis, acidic conditions are essential; formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid typical reaction solvents, or p-toluenesulfonic acid or various Lewis acids can be used with a non-acidic solvent. A large amount of side-product is formed and is removed, usually by recrystallization or chromatography.
![](../I/m/Tetratolylporphyrin.jpg)
![](../I/m/H2TPPsyn.png)
Green chemistry variants have been developed in which the reaction is performed with microwave irradiation using reactants adsorbed on acidic silica gel[4] or at high temperature in the gas phase.[5] In these cases, no additional acid is required.
The synthesis of simple porphyrins such as meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) is also commonly done in university teaching labs.[6]
References
- P. Rothemund (1936). "A New Porphyrin Synthesis. The Synthesis of Porphin". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 58 (4): 625–627. doi:10.1021/ja01295a027.
- P. Rothemund (1935). "Formation of Porphyrins from Pyrrole and Aldehydes". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 57 (10): 2010–2011. doi:10.1021/ja01313a510.
- A. D. Adler; F. R. Longo; J. D. Finarelli; J. Goldmacher; J. Assour; L. Korsakoff (1967). "A simplified synthesis for meso-tetraphenylporphine". J. Org. Chem. 32 (2): 476. doi:10.1021/jo01288a053.
- Petit, A.; Loupy, A.; Maiuard, P.; Momenteau, M. (1992). "Microwave Irradiation in Dry Media: A New and Easy Method for Synthesis of Tetrapyrrolic Compounds". Synth. Commun. 22 (8): 1137–1142. doi:10.1080/00397919208021097.
- Drain, C. M.; Gong, X. (1997). "Synthesis of meso substituted porphyrins in air without solvents or catalysts". Chem. Commun. (21): 2117–2118. doi:10.1039/A704600F.
- Falvo, RaeAnne E.; Mink, Larry M.; Marsh, Diane F. (1999). "Microscale Synthesis and 1H NMR Analysis of Tetraphenylporphyrins". J. Chem. Educ. 1999 (76): 237–239. Bibcode:1999JChEd..76..237M. doi:10.1021/ed076p237.