A NEW 5+1 ROUTE TO ARENES - APPLICATION TO THE FACILE SYNTHESIS OF D-4-SYMMETRICAL CHIRAL PORPHYRINS

A new synthesis of D-4-symmetric porphyrins is presented which provides chiral macrocycles in only five steps starting from optically active cyclic ketones. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated with the synthesis of a new porphyrin derived from R-(+)-nopinone. The development of this flexible and general route should speed the development of porphyrin-based asymmetric catalysts.