Ptérobiline et néoptérobilines, réactivité et structures

Abstract

Pterobiline and neopterobilines, reactivity and structures Pterobiline (biliverdine IX γ) and the two neopterobilines: phorcabiline and sarpedobiline, are the three main bile pigments found in Lepidopters. Studies on the reactivity of pterobiline ( 1 ) and phorcabiline esters are reported. Preparation of derivatives, in vitro transformation of pterobiline into phorcabiline, analysis of the pigments and their derivatives by field desorption mass spectrometry and Fourier transform NMR., lead to the structure 5 for the dimethyl ester of phorcabiline. By a similar reaction, biliverdine IX δ ( 15 ) affords the neobiliverdine IX δ ( 16 ). Possibility of an easy formation of new tetrapyrrolic compounds in the IX γ and IX δ series is thus reported for the first time.