Preparation of tripyrrane analogues from resorcinol and 2-methylresorcinol for applications in the synthesis of new benziporphyrin systems.

Acid catalyzed condensation of resorcinol or 2-methylresorcinol with 2 equiv. of an acetoxymethylpyrrole gave bis(pyrrolylmethyl)benzene derivatives in moderate yields; these afforded a series of novel aromatic benziporphyrins using the MacDonald "3 + 1" methodology.