Two-step access to bis-meso-perfluoroalkyl-corroles towards meso-perfluoroacyl-ABC-corroles

A solventless and acid-catalyzed condensation of meso-perfluoroalkyl-dipyrromethanes with selected benzaldehydes was used to prepare ten different bilanes that were isolated before their oxidation into trans-A2B-corroles bearing two meso-perfluoroalkyl groups. Macrocycles bearing long chains (C3F7 or C7F15) are key precursors to afford ABC-corroles having a meso-acyl substituent when subjected to a mild and basic hydrolysis affecting one of the alkyl substituents.