Quinone-capped porphyrins: synthesis and some chemical properties

Abstract
The 2,5-bis(hydroxyethyl) and 2,5-bis(hydroxypropyl) derivatives of hydroquinone bis(methoxymethyl) ether have been synthesised and used to ‘cap’ mesoporphyrin-II. Deprotection, oxidation, and metallation gave the title compounds. Several anomalous reactivities were observed in the capped series which may be attributed to the proximity of quinone and porphyrin moieties.