Extending the corrole ring conjugation: preparation of β,β′-fused 2,3-[1′,2′-b]pyrazinocorroles

A novel method for the preparation of corroles with β-fused pyrazino rings was developed, exploiting a one-pot reaction of 2,3-diaminocorroles (or 2,3,17,18-tetraaminocorroles) with different diones; a variety of π-extended corroles were obtained in moderate yields as copper complexes, which can then be demetallated to give the corresponding free base in good yields.