Synthetic porphyrins at interfaces; photosensitization and related reactions of atropisomers of o-substituted tetraphenylporphine derivatives in films, reversed micelles and membranes

Abstract— Previous studies from our laboratories and elsewhere have shown that amides between fatty acids and the synthetic α, α, α, α -tetra (o-aminophenyl)-porphyrins exhibit good surfactant properties which facilitate their incorporation into structured assemblies characterized by hydrophobic-hydrophilic compartmentalization. This paper will focus on a number of aspects of our studies of these porphyrins at different interfaces. The α, α, α, α (4,0) isomers are readily incorporated into Langmuir-Blodgett films as either free base or metal complexes. Studies of assemblies containing free base and palladium (II) complexes have been carried out in which the porphyrin is irradiated in the presence of oxygen and nonexcited but oxidizable substrates. Much of the reactivity observed can be attributed to ¹O₂* generation. These studies reveal the migration range and reactivity of activated oxygen in a structure related to biomem-branes. Several of these synthetic porphyrins have also been examined in cell suspensions and in synthetic reversed micelle solutions. Studies in the former have shown that the porphyrins can mediate the photoinactivation of several enzymes located inside and within the mitochondrial membrane in tumor cells extracted from rats. They are found to compare favorably to hematoporphyrin derivative in effectiveness. Studies of the same porphyrins in their reactivity towards copper ion incorporation in anionic reversed micelles indicate striking rate differences which can be interpreted in part to structural variations between the porphyrins as well as to their orientation at the hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface.