Synthesis of 3-cyano-N-confused porphyrin derivatives by silyl cyanide

3-Cyano- N-confused porphyrin derivatives were synthesised by the reaction of N-confused porphyrin with trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in moderate yield. The reaction took placed regioselectively in the 3-position carbon of the inverted pyrrole of N-confused porphyrins.