Acid catalysis in the way to porphyrins: reaction of pyrrole/aldehydes in the synthesis of meso-substituted porphyrins

Over the past years porphyrins have acquired an important role as a result of their applications in diverse areas such as catalysis, electronics, solar-cells production, photodynamic therapy of cancer (PDT) or in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). Having in mind such significant applications, we have decided to review the procedures for the synthesis of meso-substituted porphyrins using the condensation of pyrrole and aldehydes in the presence of acid catalysts.