THE SYNTHESIS OF THE DIMER AND TRIMER ETHER-LINKED COMPONENTS OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE

The preparation is described of all of the likely dimer and trimer ether-linked components of the anticancer material known as hematoporphyrin derivative. The hydroxyethyl side chain of one porphyrin, related to hematoporphyrin, reacts readily with a bromoethyl system derived from the same, or similar, hematoporphyrin-derived porphyrin to form a diporphyrin ether. The coupling reaction can be controlled to occur in situ, allowing the preparation of a symmetrical ether-linked dimer, or separately to provide an asymmetrically substituted porphyrin dimer. The bromoethyl groups can be formed from either the hydroxyethyl groups or, more slowly, from a vinyl side chain by using hydrogen bromide in dichloromethane. Ether-linked porphyrin trimers can be prepared by reacting a dibromoethyl system with 2 equiv. of a hydroxyethyl-containing porphyrin or by further reaction of an initially formed dimer. Hydroxyethyl side chains in the dimers and trimers are best obtained by reduction of an acetyl group. Some spectral properties of the products are described. © 1990 ASEG.