Abstract
The use of 4-acetyl(or ethoxycarbonyl)-5-formyl-2,2'-dipyrrylmethanes in the synthesis of porphyrins substituted with negative (electron-withdrawing) groups in opposite pyrrolic ring systems is discussed. A range of such porphyrins has been prepared including 2-formyl-6-vinyldeuteroporphyrin 11 diethyl ester, the synthesis of which duplicates the chromophoric system present in porphyrin-a, the prosthetic group of cytochrome oxidase.