Utility of dipyrromethane in the synthesis of some new A2B2 porphyrin and their related porphyrin like derivatives with their evaluation as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents

Abstract In this work, the dipyrromethane derivatives 2a,b were synthesized from an aldehyde and excess of pyrrole at room temperature in solvent-free conditions. The reaction of dipyrromethanes 2a,b with different aromatic aldehydes in the presence of hydrochloric acid or p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst afforded some new porphyrin like and A2B2 porphyrin derivatives 4a-g and 5a-d, respectively. Biological evaluation of the newly synthesized compounds 4a-g and 5a-d showed promising activity as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Compounds 4c,4e,4g,5c, and 5d exhibited higher antimicrobial activity, whereas, compounds 4a,4f,5a,5b, and 5d recorded the highest antioxidant activity.