In two steps from simple meso-tetraphenylporphyrin to its derivatives exhaustively β-substituted at the ‘Eastern half’

The two-step synthesis of porphyrin derivatives, exhaustively bbb-substituted at the ‘Eastern half’, starting from meso- tetraarylporphyrin chelates (Cuiⁱ, Znⁱⁱ, Nⁱⁱⁱ) upon their reaction with nitric acid, is described. The intermediates obtained (mainly dinitro-derivatives) in the reaction with carbanions bearing a leaving group X at the reactive centre give tetrasubstituted at the bbb-positions products, the ones of vicarious nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen. The products seem to be potential anticancer PDT agents, practically unavailable by other methods.