A simple and efficient synthetic route for making purpurin-18-N-aminoimides is described. The purpurin-18-Naminoimides are obtained by treatment of purpurin-18 methyl ester with various amines. These new compounds have long wavelength absorptions in the range of 706 -711 nm. In preliminary screening, the purpurin-18-N-aminoimides have shown promising photosensitizing activity for the cancer cell by in vitro study in photodynamic therapy.

Efficient Synthesis and in vitro PDT Effect of Purpurin-18-N-aminoimides. -Substrate (I) is obtained from chlorophyll paste by known procedures. The novel title compounds (III) have long wavelength absorptions in the range of 706-711 nm. In preliminary screening, they show promising photosensitizing activity for A549 cancer cells by in vitro study in photodynamic therapy. -(CUI, B. C.; CHA, M. U.; LI, J. Z.; PARK, H. S.; YOON, I.; SHIM*, Y. K.; Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 31 (2010) 11, 3313-3317, http://dx.doi.org/10.5012/bkcs.