Meso substitution opposite to the spacer provides a convenient approach for tuning the pocket sizes of pillaredcofacial bisporphyrins. The synthesis and coordination chemistry of xanthene and dibenzofuran anchored platformsstructurally modified with 2,6-dimethoxyaryl groups are described. Comparative structural analysis of xanthenederivatives confirms the ability of the
trans-aryl groups to adjust the vertical dimension of the cofacial cleft:
7(C
97H
106Cl
4N
8O
5), monoclinic, space group
P2
1/
c,
a = 28.8353(12) Å,
b = 17.1139(7) Å,
c = 17.5978(7) Å,
=98.826(1)
,
Z = 4;
8 (C
101H
123Cl
2N
8O
11.5Zn
2), monoclinic, space group
P2
1/
n,
a = 14.5517(6) Å,
b = 22.9226(10)Å,
c = 28.5155(13) Å,
= 90.312(14)
,
Z = 4;
12 (C
99H
102Cl
14N
8O
5Mn
2), monoclinic, space group
P2/
c,
a =19.5891(3) Å,
b = 15.0741(2) Å,
c = 33.2019(6) Å,
= 91.947(10)
,
Z = 4. The convenience and versatility ofthis synthetic method offers intriguing opportunities to specifically tailor the binding pockets of cofacial bisporphyrinsfor the study of small-molecule activation within a proton-coupled electron transfer framework.