Synthesis and molecular modelling studies of resorcin[4]arene-capped porphyrins

Three new resorcin[4]arene-capped porphyrins (3, 5 and 7) different in the porphyrin skeleton, in the linking arms and in the cavity dimensions, have been synthesised. Molecular modelling calculations explored the conformations and the cavity size of the three compounds and showed that their hydrophobic pockets can accommodate one molecule of water or methane (3 and 5), or benzene (7) without any distortion. Notably, the capped porphyrin 5 was able to inhibit the oxidation of Co(II) to Co(III), whereas compound 7 did it only partially.