β-Pyrazino-fused tetrarylporphyrins

•Synthetic route to a β-fused pyrazino porphyrin dyad.•The free base and metal derivatives of the new dyad were prepared.•The X-ray crystal structure of the Zn complex of the dyad was determined.•Photophysical characterization of the Zn complex of the dyad.

A novel method for the preparation of β-fused porphyrin dyads was developed that exploits a one-pot reaction of 2,3-diaminoporphyrins with diethyl oxalate. This approach provides good yields of the zinc β-fused dyad and the corresponding free-base, opening the way for preparation of several metal derivatives to permit modulation of optoelectronic characteristics for commercial applications.