MacDonald condensation of a dipyrrylmethanedicarboxylic acid 3b with 2,2'-dithienylmethane-5,5'-dicarboxaldehyde (2b) failed to give the expected dithiophene porphyrin analog lb. However, oxidation of the reaction mixtures with DDQ gave trace amounts of porphyrin-like materials. Model studies indicate that these fractions are meso-dithienylporphyrins. The synthesis of three related alpha,gamma-disubstituted porphyrins is described.