METABOLICALLY CONVERTIBLE LIPOPHILIC DERIVATIVES OF pH-SENSITIVE AMPHIPATHIC PHOTOSENSITIZERS

Abstract We propose the use of acetoxymethyl esters of pH-sensitive amphipathic photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). These compounds may be applicable for PDT involving endocytosis of lipophilic carriers leading to lysosomal uptakc of the esterified PS by target cells. Partial and/or total enzymatic de-esterification may result in the extralysosomal distribution of the photoactive agents, possibly culminating in a multisite photochemical response. We report here the synthesis and properties of chlorin e₆ triacetoxymethyl ester (CAME) and pheophorbide a acetoxymethyl ester (PAME). Chlorin e₆ and pheophorbide a are photocytotoxic chlorins that possess free carboxylate groups and exhibit optimum wavelengths of excitation substantially red shifted relative to hematoporphyrin derivative. Acetoxymethyl esterification of chlorin e₆ and pheophorbide a was accomplished with bromomethyl acetate. High-performance liquid chromatography allowed for the purification of PAME, in 87% purity, and CAME, in 63% yield and 94% purity, as well as the detection of the presumed mono- and diesters of chlorin e₆ as transient intermediates in the synthesis of CAME. The ultraviolet-visible absorption, fluorescence excitation and emission, NMR and mass spectra of the chlorin e₆ tnester are consistent with those expected for CAME. The pH-sensitive amphipathicity of pheophorbide a and chlorin e₆ but not CAME was demonstrated using a water/1-octanol partition assay. The production of pheophorbide a from PAME and the sequential formation of the di- and monoesters and free chlorin e₆ from CAME, by the action of lysosomal esterases obtained from cancer cells, demonstrate the potential of cellular enzymes to convert the lipophilic esters to pH-sensitive amphipathic PS. It is expected that the product of the esterases' action in the acidic lysosome will be hydrophobic and tend to diffuse into the organelle membrane. Contact with the neutral pH of the adjacent cytosol will result in conversion of the PS to a more hydrophilic anionic species, presumably allowing for it lo diffuse into that compartment and partition throughout the lipophilic and aqueous compartments of the cell.     

Chlorophyll and Its Derivatives,Chlorins and Porphyrins,as a Promising Class of Environmentally Friendly Dyes

The possibilities of using pheophorbid (a), chlorin e ₆, its copper complex, 6-N-(2-aminoethylamido)chlorin e ₆ dimethyl ester, and its complexes with Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) as dyes for cellulose, acetate, and wool fibers were studied.     

Novel metal complexes of boronated chlorin e6 for photodynamic therapy

Various structural modifications of chlorins are aimed at optimization of biomedical characteristics of these plant-derived tetrapyrrolic compounds. In particular, conjugation with boron polyhedra improves the efficacy of chlorin e₆ derivatives as antitumor photosensitizers. To obtain the compounds that may possess several clinically favorable characteristics, we synthesized a series of metal chlorin e₆ conjugates with 1-carba-closo-dodecaborate anion that contain Pd(II), Sn(IV) or Zn(II) in the coordination sphere of the chlorin macrocycle. The compounds were synthesized by alkylation of amino group in chlorin e₆ metal complexes with 1-trifluoromethanesulfonylmethyl-1-carba-closo-dodecaborate cesium. The water soluble Pd(II) complex of chlorin e₆ 13(1)-N-{2-[N-(1-carba-closo-dodecaboran-1-yl)methyl]aminoethyl}amide-15(2), 17(3)-dimethyl ester (compound 6) evoked low dark cytotoxicity; in striking contrast, 6 potently sensitized human tumor cells to illumination with monochromatic red light. Confocal microscopic studies demonstrated that photoactivation of 6 rapidly (within minutes) changed the patterns of intracellular drug distribution from diffuse cytoplasmic to clustered perinuclear. Co-localization experiments revealed that 6 associated with lysosomes in illuminated cells. These events were paralleled by alteration of mitochondrial shape, a decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane electric potential and the loss of plasma membrane impermeability for propidium iodide, the latter being a hallmark of cell necrosis. Similar mechanisms of cell photodamage were found for structurally close Pd(II) complex of chlorin with neutral carborane and for Sn(IV) chlorin conjugated with the anionic carborane. Thus, metal complexes of carboranylchlorins are efficient photosensitizers capable of triggering rapid necrosis. These compounds are promising for further development as multipotent agents in which each moiety, i.e., metal, the chlorin macrocycle and the boron substituent, as well as the entire complex, can be useful in cancer diagnostics and treatment.     

Opening of the extra ring in pheophorbide a methyl ester by the action of amines as a one-step method for introduction of additional fragments at the periphery of chlorin macroring

Opening of the extra ring in pheophorbide a methyl ester by the action of amines differing in the number, size, and structure of substituents on the nitrogen atom was studied with a view to synthesize chlorine e ₆ 13-carboxamides. Main factors restricting one-step preparation of 13-carboxamides with a desired substituent were revealed. The obtained experimental data can be used as a basis for predicting the possibility for onestep preparative synthesis of particular chlorin e ₆ 13-carboxamide via reaction with one or another amine.     

Natural dyes based on chlorophyll and protoporphyrin derivatives

The utility of natural dyes (chlorophyll, protoporphyrin, and their derivatives) as ecologically pure new-generation dyes that are safer than common synthetic arene-based dyes is discussed. New dyes were obtained from chlorophyll and protoporphyrin derivatives such as pheophorbide (a+b), chlorin e₆, 6-N-(2-aminoethylamido)chlorin e₆ dimethyl ester, and 6-N-(2-aminoethylamido)deuteroporphyrin methyl ester and tested in coloration of wool, cotton, and acetate fibers.     

Facile iodination of the vinyl groups in protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester and subsequent transformation of the iodinated moieties

Iodination of protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester using phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) and I₂ was studied. Iodine added to both the C3- and C8-vinyl groups equally to afford the iodohydrin or iodoether in the presence of water or alcohol, respectively. Any meso-hydrogen atom was not substituted by an iodine atom under these conditions, although both the vinyl group and one of the meso positions of methyl pyropheophorbide-a bearing a chlorin π-system, a chlorophyll-a derivative, was modified with PIFA and I₂. The reaction intermediates derived from the porphyrin were more reactive than those from the chlorin and liable to form intermolecular linkages. The obtained 2-iodo-1-hydroxyethyl group was transformed into a formyl group by a mild treatment. The corresponding iodoether moiety was readily converted into the acetyl group under basic conditions. These transformations were also applicable to smaller olefins such as styrene.     

Square‐Wave Voltammetry of Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin on Glassy‐Carbon and Paraffin‐Impregnated Graphite Electrode

Electrochemical oxidation of sodium copper chlorophyllin (CHL) has been investigated at a glassy‐carbon (GC) and paraffin‐impregnated graphite electrode (PIGE) using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Square‐wave voltammograms of other two chlorin‐type compounds, namely chlorin e₆ and chlorophyll a, have been studied as well. The measurements were performed in the pH range between 7 and 11. The square‐wave frequency was changed between 8 and 1000 Hz. The oxidation of studied chlorins is a complex, pH‐independent, reversible or quasireversible process, followed by the chemical transformation of the product. The product of the EC reaction of CHL is an electroactive π? π dimer, which strongly adsorbs on the electrode surface and undergoes further oxidation at more positive potential. The electrooxidation of the adsorbed dimer is a pH‐independent irreversible process with the formation of an electroinactive film. The voltammetric behaviour of chlorin e₆ on PIGE was qualitatively similar to that of CHL. The SW voltammograms of chlorin e₆ recorded on GCE and of chlorophyll a recorded on PIGE consisted of only one peak. The SW responses of studied compounds strongly depend on the stabilization of the reaction intermediate by adsorption to the electrode surface.     

Synthesis of amide derivatives of chlorin <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Subscript>6</Subscript>

A number of secondary and tertiary chlorin e ₆-13-amides were synthesized in high yield by the action of primary and secondary amines on methylpheophorbide a under mild conditions. Unlike the secondary amides, tertiary 13-amides were shown to exist as two stereoisomers differing by orientation of the amide group plane with respect to the macroring. The reaction of methylpheophorbide a with 2-aminoethanol gave chlorin e ₆ derivatives containing one, two, and three hydroxy groups.     

Synthesis of Derivatives of Chlorin P6 Trimethyl Ester

The Vilsmeier reaction of nickel(II) chlorin P₆ trimethyl ester with 3-dimethyl-aminoacrolein yielded nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 20-(2-formylvinyl) trimethyl ester and nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3-devinyl-20-(2-formylvinyl) trimethyl ester. Also, the outgrowths of nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 20-(2-formyl) trimethyl ester and nickel(II) chlorin P₆ 3-(2-formylvinyl)-3-devinyl-20-(2-formyl) trimethyl ester were obtained by Vilsmeier reaction with dimethylformamide. By treating the derivatives of nickel(II) 20-(2-formyl)-chlorin and nickel(II) 3-(2-formylvinyl)-20-(2-formyl)-chlorin with trifluoracetic acid, the removal of the central nickel(II) ion was accomplished. The derivatives of 20-(2-formyl)-chlorin and 3-(2-formylvinyl)-20-(2-formyl)-chlorin demonstrated considerable bathochromic shift of the major absorption band in the red region of the optical spectrum.     

β-Keto ester aminolysis of pheophorbide a methyl ester: a facile route for asymmetric chlorin ring substitution

A chemoselective aminolysis of the β-keto ester of pheophorbide a methyl ester is demonstrated opening a facile access to an asymmetric amide functionalization of a chlorin ring using a range of aromatic and aliphatic, primary and secondary amine nucleophiles. Aminolysis of pheophorbide a methyl ester with trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane is shown to give a symmetric open face chlorin dimer.     

Atropoisomerism of 13-N,N-dimethylamide-15,17-dimethyl ester of chlorin e6 from the data of X-ray, 1H NMR, and HPLC

Atropoisomerism of tertiary 13-amides of chlorin e ₆ was studied by the methods of X-ray analysis, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and high performance liquid chromatography on the example of 13-N,N-dimethylamide-15,17-dimethyl ester of chlorin e ₆. The spatial structure of the major and minor atropoisomers was established. The possibility of reversible interconversion of the atropoisomers of the studied compound in solution was shown.     

Reaction of methylpheophorbides <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis> with amines

A series of formyl analogs of chlorin e₆ 13-amides were synthesized in high yields by reaction under mild conditions of primary and secondary amines with methylpheophorides b and d. In contrast with the secondary 13-amides, tertiary 13-amides were found as two isomers differing in the orientation of the amide plane relative to the plane of the chlorin ring. Methylpheophorbides b and d were more reactive toward the amines than methylpheophorbide a.     

Synthesis of chlorophyll-a derivatives possessing the 3-(2-acylethenyl) group by cross-aldol condensation and their optical properties

Chlorophyll-a derivatives possessing a trans-2-acylethenyl group at the C3-position were prepared by cross-aldol (Claisen-Schmidt) condensation of methyl pyropheophorbide-d having the C3-formyl group with ketones bearing α-hydrogen atoms including (un)substituted acetophenones, acetylarenes, and alkanones under basic conditions. The Qy absorption and fluorescence emission bands of the synthetic chalcone analogs in dichloromethane were largely dependent on the C3³-substituents. Especially, the introduction of electron-donating and withdrawing groups to the C3³-phenyl ring resulted in bathochromic and hypsochromic shifts of the maxima, respectively. Furthermore, fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes were largely suppressed by the substitution with a nitro group on the C3³-phenyl ring.     

Ring transformation of 6H-cyclopropa[e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine. IV (1). Reduction and reaction of 5a-acetyl-6a-ethoxycarbonyl-5a,6a-dihydro-6H-cyclopropa[e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitriles with primary amines

The reaction of 5a-acetyl-6-ethoxycarbonyl-5a,6a-dihydro-6H-cyclopropa[e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitrile ( 1a ) with benzylamine gave ethyl l-benzyl-5-cyano-8a,9-dihydro-2-methyl-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-e]-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-8a-carboxylate ( 2a ), in addition to 5-acetyl-3-benzylamino-1-(4-cyanopyrazol-3-yl)- 2-pyridone ( 3 ). Reaction of 1a with aniline gave ethyl 6-acetyl-8-anilino-3-cyano-7,8-dihydro-4H-pyrazolo-[1,5-a][1,3]diazepine-8-carboxylate ( 4 ), in addition to ethyl 3-cyano-7-methyl-6-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-acrylate ( 5 ). On the other hand, the same reactions of 1b with benzylamine or aniline gave 2b or 8b , respectively. Though catalytic hydrogenation of 1a over 5% palladium-carbon proceeded by ring fission of cyclopropane ring to give 9 , 1a (or 1b ) afforded 4,5-dihydro derivatives ( 13 or 15 ) by catalytic hydrogenation over platinum oxide. The reactivity of 5-methoxy-4,5,5a,6a-tetrahydro-6H-cyclopropa[e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine ( 16 ), which are related analogs of 1a,b , is also described.     

Synthesis of conjugates based on chlorin and isosteviol building blocks

Conjugates containing ent-beyerane carbocyclic frameworks on the periphery of a porphyrin macrocycle were prepared by acylation of chlorin e₆ derivatives with hydroxyl and amino groups using ent-16-ketobeyeran19-oic acid chloride (diterpenoid isosteviol). Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 165-169, March-April, 2009.     

Amidation of the ester group of methylpheoforbide <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> with sterically nonhindered primary and secondary aliphatic amines

It is shown that the reaction of methylpheoforbide a with a series of primary and secondary aliphatic amines at elevated temperature (boiling in toluene) leads to the amidation of carbomethoxy group in the position 13(2) of the methylpheoforbide a exocycle instead of the cleavage of exocycle with the formation of the corresponding 13-amides of the chlorin e ₆. Possible reasons of the observed change in the reaction pathway are presented.     

Synthesis and optical properties of C3-ethynylated chlorin and π-extended chlorophyll dyads

A C3-ethynylated chlorophyll derivative was prepared from methyl pyropheophorbide-d possessing a 3-formyl group by treatment of Bestmann-Ohira reagent. The mono-substituted acetylene was subjected to coupling reactions at the terminal acetylenic carbon atom to form a series of π-extended chlorophyll derivatives. Replacement of the terminal hydrogen to phenyl, phenylethynyl and C3-chlorin-ethynyl caused red-shifts of their Q_y (0,0) maxima from 675 to 679, 686, and 696 nm, respectively. Optical properties of C3²-substituted 3-ethynyl-chlorophyll derivatives including chlorophyll dyads were investigated in comparison with those of their related compounds. Partial quenching of the fluorescence emission (Φ_flu=0.14) was observed for ortho-substituted dyad, compared to meta- (Φ=0.27) and para-dyads (Φ=0.29), suggesting a through-space interaction between the two chlorin macrocycles in a molecule.     

Transformations of the extra ring in pheophorbide <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> methyl ester in the reaction with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N,N′,N′</Emphasis>-tetramethylmethanediamine

The reaction of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylmethanediamine with pheophorbide a methyl ester gave the corresponding 13″-dimethylaminomethyl derivative and 13-N,N-dimethylamide derivative of chlorin e ₆ having a methyl acrylate moiety in the 15-position. Conditions were found for the synthesis of the latter both directly from pheophorbide a methyl ester and from its aminomethylation product. Probable mechanisms of the examined reactions were proposed.     

The synthesis of 7,8-dihydroimidazo[1,2-e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines, 8,9-dihydro-7H-pyrimido[1,2-e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines and 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro[1,3]diazepino[1,2-e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]triazines

Cyclic hydrazino amidines were converted to the corresponding aminopyrazolyl derivatives. Ring closure between the amino groups of pyrazoline moieties and NH groups of cyclic amidines afforded the following ring systems: 7,8-Dihydroimidazo[1,2-e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines, 8,9-dihydro-7H-pyrimido[1,2-e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines and 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro[1,3]diazepino[1,2-e]pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazines.     

焦脱镁叶绿酸的Knoevenagel反应及其杂环取代衍生物的合成

以焦脱镁叶绿酸-d甲酯(MPPd)为起始原料, 通过其醛基与连有五元杂环的β-二酮、α-氰基酮和丙二腈的活性亚甲基进行Knoevenagel反应, 完成3-位五元杂环取代的焦脱镁叶绿酸-a甲酯衍生物. 所合成的新化合物均经UV, IR, ¹H NMR及元素分析证明其结构.