High-performance liquid chromatography of porphyrin esters: Identification of mixed esters generated in sample preparation

✍ Scribed by James G. Straka; James P. Kushner; Bruce F. Burnham

• Book ID: 102626553
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 466 KB
• Volume: 111
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2697
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(81)90563-7

✦ Synopsis

Uroporphyrin and its naturally occurring decarboxylated derivatives can be conveniently separated, identified, and quantified chromatographically after formation of their methyl esters. Use of high-performance liquid chromatography has revealed the presence of previously unobserved components in such mixtures. One of these components was isolated and identified as uroporphyrin heptamethyl monoethyl ester. The family of uroporphyrin methylethyl esters was synthesized and its chromatographic behavior investigated. The quantity of ethanol present in solvents, e.g., chloroform, which are used during the standard preparation of porphyrin methyi esters is sufficient for the synthesis of significant amounts of methyl-ethyl esters. The presence of methyl-ethyl esters can lead to errors in chromatographic purification, identification, and/or quantification of components in mixtures of porphyrins.