Carbon-5 Regiospecific Synthesis of Deuteroporphyrin IX

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00137a006

Benzyl 3-(ethoxycarbonyl)-4-methyl-2-pyrrolecarboxylate was formylated with dimethylformamide (DMF)-phosphorous oxychloride, and the 5-formylpyrrole was obtained in 50percent yield.It was reduced with sodium borohydride to the alcohol, which was condensed with benzyl 3-methyl-4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-pyrrolecarboxylate to afford dibenzyldipyrrylmethane in good yield.The latter was transformed into its 5,5'-diformyl derivative which when condensed with bis<5-carboxy-3-<β-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl>-4-methylpyrryl>methane afforded the 3,8-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)deuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester in 40percent yield.Decarboxylation of the latter in hot hydrochloric acid gave deuteroporphyrin IX (isolated as its dimethyl ester) in 50percent yield.