O -Alkylation of Dihydroxo(tetraarylporphyrinato)phosphorus( ) and Antimony( ) Complexes with Alkyl Halides

The O -alkylation of dihydroxo(tetraarylporphyrinato)phosphorus( � ) complexes with several kinds of alkyl bromide in MeCN in the presence of K 2 CO 3 and 18-crown-6 ether produced dialkoxo(tetraarylporphyrinato)phosphorus( � ) complexes in-moderate-good yields. Similar O -alkylation was applied to dihydroxo(tetraarylporphyrinato)antimony( � ) complexes. The O -alkylation proceeded by the occurrence of an S N 2 attack of the alkoxide anion of the complexes at the carbon substituted with halides.