Design, synthesis and structural studies on polynucleating ligands based on atropoisomerism of catechol bearing porphyrins

High yield syntheses of all four atropoisomers of the mesotetrakis(o-catecholamidophenyl)porphyrin has been achieved; all four atropoisomers were isolated and characterised by NMR spectroscopy; for the methyl protected 2(alpha beta alpha beta) and 2(alpha 4) atropoisomers obtained as water and chloroform solvates respectively, X-ray analysis was used to assign their structure.