Abstract: The present invention relates to a reagent for determining the absolute configuration of a chiral compound containing as an active ingredient a metalloporphyrin dimer, wherein the metalloporphyrin dimer has an alkaline-earth metal ion as a central metal and has a carbon chain-crosslinked structure in which at least one of the two porphyrin rings has a substituent bulkier than methyl at least one of the second carbon atoms from a carbon atom bonded to the crosslinking carbon chain along the outer periphery of the porphyrin ring and a method for determining the absolute configuration of an asymmetric carbon atom of the chiral compound using the reagent.

Abstract: The absolute configuration of a chiral compound is determined by (i) coordinating the chiral compound to a metalloporphyrin having a carbon chain-crosslinked porphyrin dimer structure in which one of the two porphyrin rings has at least one ethyl or substituent bulkier than ethyl at at least one of the second peripheral carbon atoms from the carbon atom at the carbon chain crosslink site, and (ii) analyzing the resultant coordination compound by circular dichroism spectrophotometry to determine the absolute configuration of the asymmetric carbon based on the sign of the Cotton effect. The chiral compound has an asymmetric carbon bonded to a basic group capable of coordinating to the metal of the other porphyrin ring of the metalloporphyrin dimer or an asymmetric carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom bonded to the basic group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reagent for determining the absolute configuration of a chiral compound containing as an active ingredient a metalloporphyrin dimer, wherein the metalloporphyrin dimer has an alkaline-earth metal ion as a central metal and has a carbon chain-crosslinked structure in which at least one of the two porphyrin rings has a substituent bulkier than methyl at at least one of the second carbon atoms from a carbon atom bonded to the crosslinking carbon chain along the outer periphery of the porphyrin ring and a method for determining the absolute configuration of an asymmetric carbon atom of the chiral compound using the reagent.

Abstract: The absolute configuration of a chiral compound is determined by (i) coordinating the chiral compound to a metalloporphyrin having a carbon chain-crosslinked porphyrin dimer structure in which one of the two porphyrin rings has at least one ethyl or substituent bulkier than ethyl at at least one of the second peripheral carbon atoms from the carbon atom at the carbon chain crosslink site, and (ii) analyzing the resultant coordination compound by circular dichroism spectrophotometry to determine the absolute configuration of the asymmetric carbon based on the sign of the Cotton effect. The chiral compound has an asymmetric carbon bonded to a basic group capable of coordinating to the metal of the other porphyrin ring of the metalloporphyrin dimer or an asymmetric carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom bonded to the basic group.

Abstract: A process for producing a metalloporphyrin containing a transition metal inserted into the porphyrin ring which comprises dissolving a porphyrin compound and a transition metal salt each in an independent solvent, combining the solutions, and carrying out the reaction in the presence of a basic substance. By this process a metalloporphyrin containing a transition metal inserted into the porphyrin ring can be synthesized easily under mild conditions and with high selectivity.