Preparation of α,β-unsubstituted meso-arylbidipyrrins via metal-templated, oxidative coupling of dipyrrins

A three-step, one-pot procedure provides meso-aryl-α,β-unsubstituted bisdipyrrinato nickel complexes; oxidative coupling of these ligands followed by demetallation affords an unprecedented class of meso-aryl-α,β-unsubstituted bidipyrrins.