SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOSENSITIZING ABILITIES AS WELL AS TUMOR-PHOTOBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF CHLORIN F METHYL ETHER

AIM：To search for new photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. METHODS: Chlorin f methyl ether (1) is synthesized via addition and nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2-vinyl of chlorin f (3) which was prepared through acidic and alkaline oxidative degradation using silkworm excrement crude chlorophyll extracts as starting material. RESULTS: Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds. Preliminary sensitizing effects on photooxidation of NADPH in D₂O and photodynamic effects for transplanted sarcoma S₁₈₀ in mice of compound 1 were shown to be stronger than those of hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) and compound 3. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that compound 1 is possible to be developed as a new photosensitizer for PDT of cancer.