PHOTOBLEACHING OF MONO-l-ASPARTYL CHLORIN e6 (NPe6): A CANDIDATE SENSITIZER FOR THE PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF TUMORS

Abstract— Most sensitizers used for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors photobleach on illumination. Thus, it is of interest to examine the photobleaching behavior of new sensitizers proposed for use in PDT. This report surveys the quantum yields and kinetics of the photobleaching of mono- l -aspartyl chlorin e₆ (NPe6), a hydrophilic chlorin that has many of the photoproperties desirable in a sensitizer for clinical PDT. It is a very effective sensitizer for the PDT of several types of model tumors in animals and is now in Phase I clinical trials. The quantum yield of NPe6 photobleaching in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer in air was 8.2 × 10⁻⁴; this is greater than the yields for typical porphyrin photosensitizers. For example, the yields for hematoporphyrin and uroporphyrin are 4.7 × 10 ⁵ and 2.8 × 10⁻⁵, respectively. The yield decreased significantly in organic solvents of low dielectric constant. The Sn derivative of NPe6 was more light stable than NPe6 (yield = 5.7 × 10 ⁻⁶), while the Zn derivative was more sensitive (yield = 1.9 × 10⁻²). Oxygen appeared to be necessary for the photobleaching of NPe6; however, bleaching was not inhibited by 100 mM azide, an efficient quencher of singlet oxygen. The photooxidizable substrates cysteine, dithiothreitol and furfuryl alcohol increased the quantum yield of photoblcaching two- to four-fold, while the electron acceptor, met-ronidazole, increased it almost six-fold. Photobleaching yields for several other chlorins were also measured.     

A method for calculating atomic charges in large molecules

A simple electronegativity method is used to calculate atomic charges for molecules of interest to biochemistry. These include purines, pyrimidines, and amino acids. Results are compared to those obtained from other theoretical methods (ab initio and semiempirical) as well as to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. Correlation is fair with CNDO results but very good for ab initio, DelRe, and other electronegativity methods. Good correlation was also achieved with NMR data. It is shown that a correction factor may be required in some cases and that important resonance effects need to be taken into account. Because of the small amount of calculational effort involved, these results suggest that this method could be quite useful in this field.     

Energetics of the loss of H2 from [C3H7]+

The internal energies of [C₃H₇]⁺ ions contributing to the metastable peak [C₃H₇]⁺ → [C₃H₅]⁺ + H₂ are higher (by perhaps > 100 kJ mol^?1) than those of the ion contributing to the threshold current in appearance energy measurements on [C₃H₅]⁺. The measured appearance energy may lead to an underestimation of the activation energy, i.e. negative ‘kinetic shift’, due to quantum, mechanical tunnelling. The distribution of energy released in the decomposition can be explained on the basis that much of the reverse activation energy and a statistical proportion of the excess energy is released as translation.     

Metastable ion studies. IV—thermochemistry and ion structures among fragmenting [C3H6]+· ions

Metastable ion peak shapes, dimensions and relative abundances have been measured for the three fragmentations [C₃H₆]⁺· → [C₃H₄]⁺· + H₂, [C₃H₆]⁺· → [C₃H₅]⁺ + H· and [C₃H₆]⁺· → [C₃H₃]⁺ + H₂ + H·. [C₃H₆]⁺· ions were derived from propene, cyclopropane, tetrahydrofuran, cyclohexanone, 2-methyl but-1-ene and cis-pent-2-ene. Activation energies for these fragmentations have been evaluated. Three daughter ion dissociations ([C₃H₅]⁺ → [C₃H₃]⁺ + H₂, [C₃H₅]⁺ → [C₃H₄]⁺· + H· and [C₃H₄]⁺· → [C₃H₃]⁺ + H·) have been similarly examined. Ion structures have been determined and the metastable energy releases have been correlated with the thermochemical data. It is concluded that the molecular ions of propene and cyclopropane become structurally indistinguishable prior to fragmentation and that differences in their metastable ion characteristics can be ascribed wholly to internal energy differences; the latter can be correlated with the photoelectron spectra of the isomers. The pathway for the consecutive fragmentation which generates the metastable ion peak (m/e 42 → m/e.39) has been shown to be It is likewise concluded that fragmentating [C₃H₆]⁺· ions generated from the various precursor molecules are also structurally indistinguishable and cannot be classified with either molecular ion of the isomeric C₃H₆ hydrocarbons.     

The infrared spectra (600-140 cm−1 of the imidazole,pyrazine and pyrimidine adducts of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) acetylacetonates

Summary The complexes M(acac)₂(imidazole)₂ (M = Co or NO and [M(acac)₂B]_n (M = Co, Ni or Zn; B = pyrazine or pyrimidine) have been prepared and their i.r. spectra determined over the 600–140 cm^–1. range. The metal-oxygen and metal-nitrogen stretching frequencies, (M-O) and v(M-N), are assigned on the basis of the band shifts induced by deuteriation of the adducted base and by substitution of the metal ion. Three or fourv(M-O) bands are observed within the 600-200 cm^–1 range. The twov(M-O) bands of higher frequency are considered to the coupled with internal ligand modes. TwovM-N) bands are observed within the 280–170 cm^–1. range. The metal-ligand stretching frequencies are in good agreement with the values previously established for these vibrations in the [M(imidazole)₆]²⁺ and Ni(acac)₂(pyridine)₂ complexes.     

Further investigations of the interaction of trimethylsilyl azide with substituted maleic anhydrides. Synthesis of 4- and 5-aryl substituted 1,3-(3H)oxazine-2,6-diones

The reactions of phenyl-, o-chlorophenyl-, p-chlorophenyl-, 3,4-dichlorophenyl-, p-fluoro- and p-anisylmaleic anhydrides with trimethylsilyl azide are described. In all cases mixtures of isomeric 4- and 5-aryl-2H-1,3-(3H)oxazine-2,6-diones are obtained after hydrolysis with the 4-isomer predominating. The yield of 5-isomer is greatest for o-chlorophenyl maleic anhydride, and substantial for other arylmaleic anhydrides, indicating increased importance of steric effects in these reactions, in contrast to previously reported syntheses of methyl and halo-substituted oxazine-diones, where electronic factors appeared dominant.