Selective Bromination of β-Positions of Porphyrin by Self-Catalytic Behaviour of VOTPP: Facile Synthesis, Electrochemical Redox Properties and Catalytic Application

Abstract

Oxidovanadium(IV) complex of β-octabromo-meso-tetraphenylporphyrin, {[VIVO(TPPBr8)], 2} was synthesized by self-catalytic oxidative bromination of meso-tetraphenylporphyrinatooxidovanadium(IV) {[VIVO(TPP), 1} in excellent yield under mild conditions at 25 °C and its structure was confirmed by single crystal X-ray study. UV-Vis and 1H NMR spectra further confirmed that the meso-phenyl rings are not brominated and thus emphasizes on the selectivity as well as synthetic importance of this catalytic method. In the presence of substrates e. g. phenol derivatives, 1 biomimics the vanadium bromoperoxidase (VBPO) enzyme and catalyses the oxidative bromination of substrates in water at 25 °C. Remarkably, 2 also catalyses the oxidative bromination of phenol derivatives under similar reaction conditions with very high turnover frequency (TOF) values (ca. 29 s−1) along with its recyclability. It was found that 2 showed superior catalytic performance as compared to 1 because of its electron deficient nature due to electron withdrawing bromo substituents and robust saddle shaped nonplanar structure (further supported by DFT studies). © 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH