The reaction of pyrrol with cymantrenecarboxaldehyde in acetic acid re
sults in 5,10,15,20-tetracymantenylporphyrin (1) and 5,10,15-tricymant
renylcorrol (2). Porphyrin synthesis according to Lindsey's method onl
y affords compound 1 in high yield. The NH-tautomerism in molecules 1
and 2 was investigated by dynamic NMR spectroscopy. It was shown that
free rotation of the (CO)(3)MnC5H4 fragments around the bond with the
carbon atoms in the meso-positions of the porhpyrin macrocycle occurs.