A general reductive denitration method for regiospecific deuteriation of the porphyrin nucleus: synthesis of [20-2H1]mesoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester
Abstract
Treatment of meso- or β-nitroporphyrins with deuteriated lithium hydroxide and [N,N,S-2H3]2-aminobenzenethiol in dry N,N-dimethylformamide results in replacement of the nitro group with deuterium; the regiospecificity of the process is demonstrated by synthesis of [20-2H1]mesoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester.