The Chemistry of Corrin Systems

The review deals with the modern state of the chemistry of corrin compounds. The principal methods of the synthesis of corroles, metal complexes of tetradehydrocorrins and corrins are discussed together with the mechanisms of the cyclisation of tetrapyrrole systems on irradiation or in the presence of metal salts, which leads either to corroles or tetradehydrocorrin complexes. The limits of the applicability of the methods for the synthesis of corrins via imino-ethers and by the reduction of tetradehydrocorrins are estimated. The results of studies on the stereospecific synthesis of cobyrinic acid are presented. The available literature data on the properties of synthetic corrinoid systems are considered as well as the properties of the metal complexes, deuterium exchange, protonation and alkylation of corroles and corrins and the rearrangements of tetradehydrocorrins. Much attention has been devoted to the spectroscopic characteristics of tetrapyrrole macrocyclic compounds, in particular their ultraviolet, infrared, and NMR spectra, which are widely used to establish the structure of corrin systems.
The bibliography includes 82 references.