Porphyrins with fused nitronaphthalene and benzothiadiazole subunits have been synthesized by the “2+ 2” and “3+ 1” methodologies; the key pyrrolic intermediates were prepared by the base catalyzed condensation of dinitronaphthalenes or 4-nitro-2, 1, 3- benzothiadiazole with isocyanoacetates.