Photochemistry of Metalloporphyrin Carbene Complexes

摘要

The photochemistry of metalloporphyrins and other tetrapyrrolic systems continues to attract considerable interest. There have been numerous studies on the photoactivity of various porphyrin complexes with single-bonded axial ligands, including halogens, oxo-anion species, molecular oxygen, and a variety of metals, including chromium, manganese, and iron. The photochemistry of metalloporphyrins with multiple-bonded axial ligands has not been explored. We report here the photochemistry of several ironporphyrin carbene and vinylidene complexes. Irradiation of these complexes with visible light cleaves the iron—carbon double bond, resulting in a four-coordinate iron-(II) porphyrin and a free carbene. This chemistry is unique in the area of transition metal carbene or alkylidene compounds.