THE STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVE MATERIAL IN HEMATOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE

Abstract

Abstract The structure of the active material in hematoporphyrin derivative is shown to be a condensation polymer of hematoporphyrin linked by ether functional groups. When a mixture of the monoacetates and the diacetate of hematoporphyrin is treated with dilute sodium hydroxide solution a polymeric fraction is formed which constitutes the active material of hematoporphyrin derivative. This fraction is stable to basic hydrolysis using conditions which are shown to hydrolyse porphyrin esters, but is hydrolysed by acidic conditions which cleave porphyrin ethers as well as esters. When hematoporphyrin diacetate is similarly treated with base a polymeric fraction is formed which is hydrolysed by both acidic and basic conditions showing it to be ester linked. This ester linked polymer is unstable in aqueous solution at pH 7 and converts to the polyether within 2 days at room temperature.