Dear Colleagues,

Porphyrins, metalloporphyrins, and their analogs constitute a family of macrocycles that are abundant in the natural world, playing crucial roles in a wide array of biological functions. These functions encompass vital processes in plants, as exemplified by chlorophyll, a magnesium-chlorin complex essential for light absorption. Similarly, heme groups, which are iron–porphyrin complexes, play a pivotal role in facilitating dioxygen binding and transport during cellular respiration in animals. Bacteriochlorophylls found in phototropic bacteria serve as an illustration of their role in bacterial photosynthesis. Moreover, they contribute to enzyme-mediated catalysis, as seen in Cytochromes P450 enzymes, which metabolize a diverse range of substances. Porphyrins also play a role in red blood cell formation, exemplified by cyanocobalamin, a cobalt–corrin complex.

Naturally occurring porphyrins are often referred to as "the Pigments of Life" due to their critical biological functions. Recognizing the significance of these natural porphyrinoids has inspired organic chemists to synthesize analogous compounds in the laboratory. Effective synthetic methodologies have been developed to create porphyrinoids with various functionalities, electronic properties, and photophysical attributes. This progress strongly encourages their application in diverse fields, including medicine (such as cancer photodynamic therapy, antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation, medical imaging, and theragnostics), as well as in catalysis, sensor receptors, solar cell dyes, nonlinear optics, molecular and supramolecular structures, materials, and devices.

In recent years, the versatile applications of porphyrins have shifted interest from purely academic interests to industrial applications, leading to an increasing demand for sustainable chemistry principles. This includes the development of new, selective, and environmentally friendly synthetic methods that minimize the use of hazardous solvents, reactants, and excessive energy consumption.

Building on the success of the first edition of the “Porphyrin-Based Compounds: Synthesis and Application” Special Issue, we are pleased to announce the launch of the current edition. This edition serves as a platform for the presentation of the latest and most exciting results and perspectives on the synthesis and functionalization of tetrapyrrolic macrocycles and their applications. We welcome original research papers and comprehensive reviews that cover any aspect related to the topics mentioned above.

Dr. Carlos J. P. Monteiro
Dr. M. Amparo F. Faustino
Dr. Carlos Serpa
Guest Editors

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• synthesis of porphyrins and derivatives
• functionalization/structural modification of porphyrinoids
• structural and photophysical characterization
• porphyrinic functional materials
• biomedical applications optoelectronic applications
• porphyrin–protein interactions

• Porphyrin-Based Compounds: Synthesis and Application in Molecules (17 articles)