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I have been looking at this diagram from quite some time, I know the 18 pi electron cycle that forms porphin(e) is definitely planar but what about the whole molecule?... The Nitrogen's act as a polydentate ligand with a metal complex so that may be a reason that the whole molecule may not be planar.. Can someone elaborate?

Porphyrin1 Porphyrin2 Porphyrin4

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    $\begingroup$ Our respected member @porphyrin definitely is not planar. But I guess he would know for sure for the compound. I do not see any reason why it should not be. AFAIK, the H-N are not neighbors, but are placed across the hole. $\endgroup$
    – Poutnik
    Commented Dec 7, 2020 at 8:19
  • $\begingroup$ only 18 electrons are in the same plane, the rest are not, hence prophyrin is not planar. am i correct? @Poutnik $\endgroup$
    – Informal Limits Lad
    Commented Dec 7, 2020 at 8:22
  • $\begingroup$ I do not think so. Those other ones are just not part of the conjugated ring. See also en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyrin#/media/File:Porphin-18e.png But the H in H-N may make it nonplanar. $\endgroup$
    – Poutnik
    Commented Dec 7, 2020 at 8:24
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    $\begingroup$ Porhyrins readily undergo distortions, and speaking of porphyrin metal complexes, they are as planar as metal centers allow them to be. $\endgroup$
    – andselisk ♦
    Commented Dec 7, 2020 at 8:49

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