This article mainly deals with the recent serendipity of novel porphyrin isomer, N-confused porphyrin (NCP), and its analogs. A variety of NCP metal complexes, multiply confused, expanded, and contracted porphyrinoids were synthesized and the structures were established by the X-ray single crystal analyses. The unique aspect of dynamic flipping (inversion), induced by confusion of the macrocyclic core, that leads to novel porphyrinoids, is emphasized.

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Fullerene derivatives that possess long-chain alkyl groups and hydrophilic moieties were soluble in water by ultrasonication and formed molecular-bilayer-based superstructures like liposonal membranes and synthetic bilayer membranes. Ultrathin films of triple-chain fullerene lipids formed multi-bilayer structures that possess phase transitions between a crystal phase and a liquid crystal phase. UV-vis and FTIR spectra of the films showed phase transition dependence. Fullerene lipid-coated electrodes exhibited electron transfer reactions leading to the generation of fullerene dianions. Strong binding between the fullerene anions and electrolyte cations at the modified electrodes was theoretically analyzed. A fullerene lipid formed stable monolayers on water which were transferred onto substrates as LB films under light or dark, whose spectral and structural properties were characterized.

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