Three approaches to the synthesis of reduced derivatives of tetraazaporphine such as tetraazachlorin, tetraazabacteriochlorin, and tetraazaisobacteriochlorin are reviewed. The first synthesis of alkyl-substituted tetraazachlorins was achieved by the catalytic hydrogenation of magnesium complexes of tetraazaporphines. Two other synthesis approaches for reduced tetraazaporphines based on the mixed condensation of the precursors with different hydrogenation levels and β–β addition reactions have been developed in the last decade. The use of tetramethylsuccinonitrile as the saturated component in the mixed condensation with derivatives of aromatic and heteroaromatic dicarboxylic acids enable the synthesis of oxidation-resistant benzo-; 1,2- and 2,3-naphtho-; pyrazino-; 2,3- and 3,4-pyridino-fused tetraazachlorins, tetraazabacteriochlorins, and tetraazaisobacteriochlorins. Fullerene conjugates of reduced tetraazaporphine derivatives were obtained using 1,2-dicyanofullerene as the source of the hydrogenated sites. Tetraazaporphine can act as dienophile in Diels-Alder reaction with dienes of the anthracene and cyclopentadiene series and also as dipolarophile in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with azomethine ylides and nitrones. In addition, the effect of the reduction of peripheral double bonds in tetraazaporphine macrocycle alone, and in combination with annelation of benzene or heterocyclic rings on the absorption spectra is discussed.
Lewis acid-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of 2-cyclopentenones with Danishefsky’s diene: double bond isomerization of tetrahydro-1H-indene-1,5(7aH)-diones, and attempts on an asymmetric catalysis