meso-Unsubstituted porphyrin dimers linked with 1,3- and 1,4-phenylenes were prepared from the corresponding phenylenedipyrroles by double [3+1] MacDonald condensation in 16% and 27% yields, respectively. These dipyrroles were in turn prepared from tere- and iso-phthalaldehydes in respective yields of 23% and 41% via the 3-step reactions involving the modified Barton-Zard reaction.