TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: In the method of making (IA), the reacting step is optionally carried out with a solvent in the presence of an acid. In the method of making (I), the oxidizing step is carried out with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone or chloranil in an organic solvent. In the method of making (II), the desulfurizing step is carried out with a metallic or organometallic reagent, and the reducing step is carried out with sodium dithionite. The method of synthesizing porphyrin rod further comprises: (iv) reducing (XIV) to produce an elongated hydrocarbyl compound of formula (A1-L1-B1) (XV), (v) reacting (XV) with dipyrromethane to produce substituted hydrocarbyl compounds of formula (A2-L1-E2) (XVI), (vi) desulfurizing and reducing (XVI) to produce substituted hydrocarbyl compounds of formula (E1-L1-E2) (XVII) and then (vii) reacting (XVII) with dipyrromethane-1,9-dicarbinol to produce substituted hydrocarbyl compounds of formula (F1-L1-E2) (XVIII), and (viii) coupling (XVIII) to a substrate to produce a molecular memory device, where (XVIII) contains at least one surface attachment group; or (iv-a) desulfurizing and reducing (XIV) to produce (XIII), (v-a) reacting (XIII) with dipyrromethane-1,9-dicarbinol to produce substituted hydrocarbyl compounds of formula (F1-L1-D2) (XIX), (vi-a) reducing (XIX) to produce substituted hydrocarbyl compounds of formula (F1-L1-B1) (XX) and then (vii-a) reacting (XX) with dipyrromethane to produce substituted hydrocarbyl compounds of formula (F1-L1-E2) (XXI), and (viii-a) coupling (XXI) to a substrate to produce a molecular memory device, where (XXI) contains at least one surface attachment group, where B1 is dipyrromethane-1,9-dicarbinol, E1 is dipyrromethyl, D2 is 1,9-diacyldipyrromethyl and L1 is linker or covalent bond.E2, F1 = porphyrinic macrocyclyl. EXAMPLE - 2-(Methylthio)pyrrole (2.2 equivalents) was condensed with benzaldehyde (0.25 M) in dichloromethane containing trifluoroacetic acid (0.1 M) to give 5,5'-(phenylmethylene)bis(2-(methylthio)-1H-pyrrole) (56% yield).