THE PREPARATION OF ANALOGS OF THE ETHER-LINKED DIMER AND OLIGOMER COMPONENTS OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE

The preparation of ether-linked porphyrin dimers and oligomers which are analogues of those present in the anticancer drugs hematoporphyrin derivative and Photofrin II(R) is described. These materials are prepared from the appropriately substituted porphyrins containing a 1-hydroxyethyl or a vinyl side chain through an intermediate 1-bromoethyl derivative. Ether-linked porphyrin dimers with ethyl, formyl, hydroxymethyl and 1-alkoxyethyl side chains were prepared, together with trimers and tetramers containing ethyl side chains. Some of the spectroscopic and biological properties of these compounds are discussed.