# Patent

## Title
Substituted porphyrins

## Abstract

To improve bioavailability of the catalytic metalloporphyrin-based SOD mimics Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTE-2-PyP5+) and Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N,N′-diethylimidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTDE-2-ImP5+), three new Mn(III) porphyrins, bearing oxygen atoms within side chains, were synthesized and characterized: Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-(2-methoxyethyl)pyridinium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTMOE-2-PyP5+), Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-methyl-N′-(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+) and Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N,N′-di(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin (MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+). The catalytic rate constants for O2 dismutation (and the related metal-centered redox potentials vs NHE) for the new compounds are: log kcat=8.04 (E1/2=+251 mV) for MnTMOE-2-PyP5+, log k.cat=7.98 (E1/2=+356 mV) for MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+ and log kcat=7.59 (E1/2=+365 mV) for MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+. At 30 μM levels none of the new compounds were toxic, and allowed SOD-deficient E. coli to grow nearly as well as wild type. At 3 μM levels, the MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+, bearing an oxygen atom within each of the eight side chains, was the most effective and offered much higher protection than MnTE-2-PyP5+, while MnTDE-2-ImP5+ was inefficient. These new porphyrins were compared to Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins. While longer-chain n-alkyl members of the series exerted toxicity at higher concentration levels, they were very effective at submicromolar levels. Thus, 0.3 μM Mn(III) tetrakis(N-n-hexyl-pyridinum-2-yl)porphyrin and its n-octyl analogue offered the same level of protection as did >10 μM methyl and ethyl porphyrins. The kcat of methyl and n-octyl porphyrins are identical, but n-octyl is −10-fold more lipophilic. Therefore, the 30-fold improvement in bioavailability appears to be due to the increase in lipophilicity. MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ and longer-chain Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins may offer better treatment for oxidative stress injuries than the previously studied MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTDE-2-ImP5+.

## Background
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national phase application of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2005/002691, having an international filing date of Feb. 1, 2005, which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/542,331, filed Feb. 9, 2004, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.


TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to porphyrins and, more particularly to substituted porphyrins and to methods of using same.
BACKGROUND
Mn(III) cationic N-alkylpyridylporphyrin mimics of SOD activity have been developed (Spasojevic et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:6831-6837 (2003), Batinic-Haberle, Methods Enzymol. 349:223-233 (2001), Spasojevic and Batinic-Haberle, Inorg. Chim. Acta. 317:230-242 (2001), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998), Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999), Kachadourian et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:391-396 (1999), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002), Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003)) the N-ethylpyridyl derivative of which, MnTE-2-PyP5+ (Spasojevic et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:6831-6837 (2003)), exhibits beneficial antioxidant properties in several animal models of oxidative stress injury (Tao et al. Circulation 108:2805-2811 (2003), Sheng et al, J. Neurotrauma, In press (2003), Sheng et al, Drug News and Perspectives 15:654-665 (2002), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:947-961 (2002), Vujaskovic et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:857-863 (2002), Piganelli et al, Diabetes 51:347-355 (2002), Trostchansky et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 35:1293-1300 (2003), Mackensen et al, J. Neurosci. 21:4582-4592 (2001), Aslan et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:15215-15220 (2001), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. In preparation (2003)). Based on the structure-activity relationship, that revealed the key roles of metal-centered redox potential (Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999)) and electrostatics (Spasojevic et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:6831-6837 (2003)) on the superoxide (O2.−) dismuting ability, a similar compound, N,N′-diethylimidazolyl derivative, MnTDE-2-ImP5+, was synthesized and was proven effective in vivo (Sheng et al, Drug News and Perspectives 15:654-665 (2002), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:947-961 (2002), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. In preparation (2003), Bottino et al, Diabetes 51:2561-2567 (2002), Bowler et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:1141-1152 (2002)). Besides dismuting O2.−, Mn(III) ortho N-alkylpyridylporphyrins are able to efficiently scavenge peroxynitrite (k>107M−1 s−1) (Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003), Ferrer-Sueta et al, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12:442-449 (1999)) and carbonate radical (k>108 M−1 s−1) (Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003)). In addition, these Mn porphyrins undergo reductive nitrosylation with NO. (Spasojevic et al, Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry 4:526-533 (2000)). Finally, they are readily reduced by cellular reductants such as ascorbic acid (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002), Ferrer-Sueta et al, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12:442-449 (1999), Spasojevic et al, Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry 4:526-533 (2000), Bloodsworth et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 28:1017-1029 (2000)), glutathione (Spasojevic et al, Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry 4:526-533 (2000)), tetrahydrobiopterin (Spasojevic and Fridovich, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33(Suppl. 2):S316 (2002)), and uric acid (Trostchansky et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 35:1293-1300 (2003), Ferrer-Sueta et al, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12:442-449 (1999)). Thus, the catalytic elimination of O2.−, ONOO−, and CO3.− by Mn porphyrins is likely made possible in vivo through coupling with cellular reductants. Through modulation of the levels of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species, Mn porphyrins can favorably affect cellular redox status and redox sensitive signaling processes (Mikkelsen and Wardman, Oncogene 22:5734-5754 (2003), Chen et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 35:117-132 (2003)).
In vivo studies (Trostchansky et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 35:1293-1300 (2003), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. In preparation (2003)) indicated that the efficacy of Mn porphyrins can be improved by increasing their lipophilicity. Hence, a series of ortho N-alkylpyridylporphyrins were prepared, wherein the length of N-pyridyl alkyls was increased from methyl to n-octyl (Batinic-Haberle et al, S. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). While all Mn porphyrins of the series can scavenge O2.− (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)) and ONOO− (Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003)) with nearly equal effectiveness, their in vivo performance differs greatly. An increase in the length of the alkyl chains increases lipophilicity up to 10-fold (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). Consequently, their bioavailibility can be expected to increase as well. However, as the alkyl chains lengthen, the surfactant character of the porphyrin increases, leading to the potential for increased toxicity. At higher concentrations this effect may predominate over any gain in activity resulting from increased bioavailibility. An attempt was made to overcome the toxicity by working at low concentrations where the sole impact of lipophilicity would be assessed.
The present invention results from studies involving modification of the ortho N-alkylpyridyl and di-ortho N,N′-dialkylimidazolyl chains by introducing ether oxygen. 2-Methoxyethyl analogues of MnTE-2-PyP5+ (FIG. 1, MnTMOE-2-PyP5+) and of MnTDE-2-ImP5+ (FIG. 1, MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+) were synthesized. When compared to ortho pyridylporphyrins, di-ortho imidazolyl compounds have both imidazolyl nitrogens substituted with ethyl(methyl) or methoxyethyl groups. The ortho N-alkylpyridylporphyrins exist as a mixture of positional (atropo-)isomers (Spasojevic et al, Inorg. Chem. 41:5874-5881 (2002)), whereas di-ortho imidazolyl compounds with eight identical imidazolyl substituents do not have positional isomers. As described in the Example that follows, the potency and toxicity of the new Mn porphyrins were assessed using the SOD-deficient E. coli model of oxidative stress (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998), Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999)) which has been proven useful in the past in evaluating prospective candidates for animal models of oxidative stress injuries.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1. Structures of the Mn(III) porphyrins studied.
FIG. 2. ESMS of metal-free porphyrins obtained in water:acetonitrile=1:1 at 20 V cone voltage.
FIG. 3. ESMS of Mn(III) porphyrins obtained in water:acetonitrile=1:1 at 20 V cone voltage.
FIG. 4. Log kcat vs μ1/2/(1+μ1/2) for MnIIITE-2-PyP5+, MnIIITnBu-2-PyP5+, MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ and MnIIITDMOE-2-ImP5+ obtained in 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.8, 0-0.4 M NaCl. Slopes are given in parentheses.
FIGS. 5A-5D. Aerobic growth curves of wild type (FIGS. 5A, 5B) and SOD-deficient E. coli (FIGS. 5C, 5D) in minimal 5AA minimal medium in the absence (1) and presence of 3 μM (FIGS. 5A, 5C), and 25 μM Mn(III) porphyrins (FIGS. 5B, 5D). Mn porphyrins are abbreviated as follows: MnT(alkyl)-2-PyP5+, alkyl being methyl (2), ethyl (3), n-propyl (4), n-butyl (5), n-hexyl (6), n-octyl (7), MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ (8), MnTDE-2-ImP5+ (9), MnTM,MOE-2-PyP5+ (10), MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ (11). Inset: Aerobic growth of SOD-deficient E. coli in 5AA minimal medium (A700 nm) after 14 hours in the presence of 3 μM (FIG. 5C) and 25 μM (FIG. 5D) Mn porphyrins.
FIGS. 6A-6D. Aerobic growth curves of SOD-deficient E. coli in M9CA medium in the absence (1) and presence of 1 μM (FIG. 6A), 3 μM (FIG. 6B). 10 μM (FIG. 6C) and 30 μM (FIG. 6D) Mn porphyrins. Mn porphyrins are abbreviated as in FIG. 5. Inset: Aerobic growth of SOD-deficient E. coli in M9CA medium after 6 hours (A700 nm) in the absence (1) and presence of 1 μM (FIG. 6A), 3 μM (FIG. 6B), 10 μM (FIG. 6C) and 30 μM (FIG. 6D) Mn porphyrins.
FIGS. 7A-7D. Aerobic growth curves of wild type (FIGS. 7A, 7C) and SOD-deficient E. coli (FIGS. 7B, 7D) in M9CA medium in the presence of 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 30 μM MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ (nHex) (FIGS. 7A, 7B) and MnTnOct-2-PyP5+ (nOct) (FIGS. 7C, 7D). Inset: Aerobic growth of E. coli in M9CA medium after 6 hours (A700 nm in the presence of 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 30 μM MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ (nHex) (FIGS. 7A, 7B) and MnTnOct-2-PyP5+ (nOct) (FIGS. 7C, 7D).
FIG. 8. Reactivity of manganese complexes expressed in terms of log kcat vs metal-centered redox potential, E1/2. Only water-soluble Mn(III) porphyrins are given in the left, linear section of the curve that obeys Marcus equation (Marcus, Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 15:155 (1964), Jordan, Reaction Mechanisms of Inorganic and Organometallic Systems, 2nd Ed., Oxford University Press, New York, (1998), Bennet, Prog. Inorg. Chem. 18:1-176 (1973)) and data are from Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999): (1) MnTCPP3−, (2) MnT(TMAP)5+, (3) MnT(2,6-F2-3-SO3—P)P3−, (4) MnT(TFTMAP)P5+, (5) MnT(2,6-Cl2-3-SO3—P)P3−, (6) MnBM-2-PyP3+, (7) MnTM-3-PyP3+, (8) MnTM-4-PyP3+, (9) MnTr-2-PyP4+, (10) MnTM-2-PyP5+, (11) MnTE-2-PyP5+. Data for EUK-8 and MnCl2 are from Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 40:726 (2001), data for Mn(II) cyclic polyamine M40403 from Aston et al, Inorg. Chem. 40:1779 (2001). Data for SOD are from (Ellerby et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118:6556 (1996), Vance and Miller, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:461 (1998), Klug-Roth et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 95:2786 (1973). Data for MnIIICl1-4MnTE-4-PyP5+ (12-15) are from Kachadourian et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:391-396 (1999), data for MnIIBr8MnTM-4-PyP4+ (16) are from Batinic-Haberle et al, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 343:225 (1997), and for MnIICl5MnTE-2-PyP4+ (17) from Kachadourian et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 25 (Suppl. 1):S17 (1998) (triangles). Data for MnTnBu-2-PyP5+ (a) are from Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002), and for MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ (b), MnTD(M)E-2-ImP5+ (c,d), MnTM,MOE-2-PyP5+ (e), and MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ (f) are from the present work (squares).
FIG. 9. Aerobic growth of SOD-deficient E. coli in M9CA medium after 6 hours, measured as A700 nm, in the presence of 1 μM Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins as a function of their lipophilicity, Rf (Table 1). Alkyl is methyl (M) ethyl (E), n-propyl (nPr), n-butyl (nBu), n-hexyl (nHex) and n-octyl (nOct). Inset: The log kcat of Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins as a function of their lipophilicity, Rf.
FIG. 10. Aerobic growth of SOD-deficient E. coli in 5AA minimal medium at 14 hours, measured as A700 nm, in the presence of 3 μM Mn(III) methoxyethylpyridyl- and imidazolyl porphyrins.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a compound of Formula:










When the compound is of Formula I-VI, each R is, independently, —(CH2)mCH2OX or —(CH2CH2O)nX,
wherein

    
    
        m is 1-6, preferably 1-4, more preferably 1 or 2;
        n is 3-50, preferably 3-10, more preferably 3, 4 or 5;
        X is C1-12alkyl (straight chain or branched), preferably C1-8alkyl, more preferably C1-4alkyl. Each R can be the same.
    
    


When the compound is of Formula VII or VIII, at least one R on each imidazole ring is, independently, —(CH2)mCH2OX or —(CH2CH2O)nX, the other R being, independently, a C1-C12alkyl, (straight chain or branched), preferably a C1-8alkyl, more preferably a C1, C2, C3 or C4 alkyl;
wherein

    
    
        m is 1-6, preferably 1-4, more preferably 1 or 2;
        n is 3-50, preferably 3-10, more preferably 3, 4 or 5;
        X is C1-12alkyl (straight chain or branched), preferably C1-8alkyl, more preferably C1-4alkyl. Advantageously, each R is the same and is —(CH2)nCH2OX.
    
    


When the compound is any of Formulas I-VIII, each A is, independently, hydrogen or an electron withdrawing group, for example, a halogen (e.g., Cl, Br or F), NO2, or CHO, preferably each A is hydrogen or halogen, more preferably at least one A is halogen and the remaining A's are hydrogen, still more preferably 1-4 A's are, independently, Cl or Br and the remaining A's are hydrogen. M is metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, iron, copper, cobalt, nickel and zinc (preferably manganese). Z− is a counterion (e.g., chloride).
To the extent that Hunt et al, Chem. Biol. 4:846-858 (1997), Szabó et al, Mol. Med. 8:571-580 (2002), and/or Mabley et al, Mol. Med. 8:581-590 (2002) may describe compounds within the scope of the definitions set forth above, those specific compounds are outside the scope of the compound per se and/or method embodiments of the present invention.
The invention further relates to a method of protecting cells (eg mammalian cells) from oxidant-induced toxicity comprising contacting the cells with a protective amount of a compound as described above. The invention further relates to a method of treating a pathological condition of a patient resulting from oxidant-induced toxicity comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of such a compound. The invention also relates to a method of treating a pathological condition of a patient resulting from degradation of NO., comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound as described above. Additionally, the invention relates to a method of treating a patient for inflammatory lung disease comprising administration to the patient an effective amount of a compound as described above. The inflammatory lung disease can be a hyper-reactive airway disease. The disease can be asthma.
Additionally the invention relates to a method of treating a neurodegenerative condition of a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound as described above. Neurodegenerative disease can be familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease, Picks disease, Alzheimers, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Mad cow disease, Jacob-Creutzfeld disease.
Additionally the invention relates to a method of treating radiation injury and cancer of a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound as described above.
Additionally the invention relates to a method of treating a diabetic condition of a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound as described above.
Additionally the invention relates to a method of treating a cardiac condition of a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound as described above.
Additionally the invention relates to a method of treating a sickle cell disease condition of a patient comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound as described above.
The compounds disclosed herein can be used in the treatment of the diseases, disorders and conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,339, U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,356, U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,477, WO 99/23097, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,975, WO 01/96345, WO 02/060383 and PCT/US02/17144.
The compounds described above, metal bound and metal free forms, can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the present methods. Such compositions include the compound(s) (active agent) together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent. The composition can be present in dosage unit form, for example, tablets, capsules or suppositories. The composition can also be in the form of a sterile solution suitable for injection or nebulization. Compositions can also be in a form suitable for opthalmic use. The invention also includes compositions formulated for topical administration, such compositions taking the form, for example, of a lotion, cream, gel or ointment. The concentration of active agent to be included in the composition can be selected based on the nature of the agent, the dosage regimen and the result sought.
The dosage of the composition of the invention to be administered can be determined without undue experimentation and will be dependent upon various factors including the nature of the active agent (including whether metal bound or metal free), the route of administration, the patient, and the result sought to be achieved. A suitable dosage to be administered IV or topically can be expected to be in the range of about 0.01 to 50 mg/kg/day, preferably, 0.1 to 10 mg/kg/day. For aerosol administration, it is expected that doses will be in the range of 0.001 to 5.0 mg/kg/day, preferably, 0.01 to 1 mg/kg/day. Suitable doses will vary, for example, with the compound and with the result sought.
Certain aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail in the non-limiting Example that follow.
Example
Experimental Details
General. MnCl2×4H2O, and Baker-flex silica gel IB TLC plates were purchased from J.T. Baker. N,N-dimethylformamide, 2-propanol (99.5+%), NH4PF6 (99.99%), NaCl, sodium L-ascorbate, and tetrabutylammonium chloride were from Aldrich, while xanthine, K2CO3, albumin, bovine (# C-3131) and equine ferricytochrome c (lot # 7752) were from Sigma. The ethyl(n-butyl) p-toluenesulfonate and methoxyethyl p-toluenesulfonate were from TCI America. Acetone, ethyl ether (anhydrous), chloroform, NaCl, KOH, KH2PO4, methanol, EDTA and KNO3 were from Mallinckrodt and acetonitrile was from Fisher Scientific. Tris (ultra pure) was from ICN Biomedicals, Inc. Xanthine oxidase was prepared by R. Wiley and was supplied by K. V. Rajagopalan (Waud et al, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 19:695-701 (1975)). Catalase was from Boehringer, and ultrapure argon from National Welders Supply Co.
Mn(III) Porphyrins. Synthesis. The H2T-2-PyP, H2TM-2-ImP and H2T-2-ImP were supplied from MidCentury Chemicals (Chicago, Ill.). The N-ethylation, N-butylation and N-methoxyethylation of H2T-2-PyP and N-methoxyethylation of H2TM-2-ImP were accomplished as previously described (Batinic-Haberle, Methods Enzymol. 349:223-233 (2001), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998)). However, the method proved unsuccessful when N,N′-dimethoxyethylation of H2T-2-ImP was attempted to prepare H2TDMOE-2-ImP4+. Thus, no single fully quaternized product was obtained. In this case, N,N′-methoxyethylation was conducted under alkaline/anhydrous conditions to facilitate the proton release (Milgrom et al, Tegrahedron 52:9877-9890 (1996)). Thus, 30 mg of H2T-2-ImP in 7 mL of DMF was purged with argon, then 300 mg of K2CO3 was added followed by the addition of 7 mL of methoxyethyl p-toluene sulfonate (higher amount of K2CO3 will lead to the formation of undesired products). The quaternization was followed by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates with KNO3satH2O/H2O/acetonitrile=1/1/8. The isolation of the chloride salt was performed as previously described (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998), Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999)). As was the case with longer N-alkylpyridylporphyrins, diethyl ether alone instead of diethyl ether/2-propanol, 1/1, was used to rinse the PF6− salt. The same conditions were then applied for N,N′-diethylation of H2T-2-ImP. Insertion of manganese into the porphyrin ligand was achieved as previously described for N-alkylpyridylporphyrins. The formation of Mn(II) porphyrin occurs readily. The oxidation of manganese was most rapid with N-methoxyethylpyridylporphyrin and the slowest (within an hour) with N,N′-dimethoxyethylimidazolylporphyrin. The purification and isolation of Mn complexes was the same as with their respective ligands. Elemental analysis: H2TMOE-2-PyPCl4×9 H2O (C52H72N8O13Cl4): Found: C, 53.93; H, 6.09; N, 10.05; Cl, 12.73. Calculated: C, 53.89; H, 6.26; N, 9.67; Cl, 12.24. MnTMOE-2-PyPCl5×9 H2O (C52H70N8O13MnCl5): Found: C, 49.97; H, 4.83; N, 10.32; Cl, 14.77. Calculated: C, 50.07; H, 5.65; N, 8.98; Cl, 14.21. H2TM,MOE-2-ImPCl4×12.5 H2O×1.5 NH4Cl (C48H89N12O16.5Cl5.5): Found: C, 43.70; H, 6.25; N, 13.99; Cl, 14.74. Calculated: C, 43.87; H, 6.82; N, 14.38; Cl, 14.84. MnTM,MOE-2-ImPCl5×12.5 H2O×0.5 NH4Cl (C48H81N12O16.5MnCl5.5): Found: C, 42.64; H, 5.70; N, 13.07; Cl, 14.11. Calculated: C, 42.73; H, 6.19; N, 12.98; Cl, 14.45. H2TDMOE-2-PyPCl4×8 H2O (C56H90N12O24Cl4). Found: C, 50.73; H, 6.56; N, 12.74; Cl, 11.73. Calculated: C, 50.60; H, 6.82; N, 12.64; Cl, 10.67. MnTDMOE-2-PyPCl5×12.5 H2O (C56H97N12O20.5MnCl5). Found: C, 44.78; H, 6.18; N, 11.40; Cl, 11.95. Calculated: C, 44.88; H, 6.52; N, 11.21; Cl, 11.82. H2TDE-2-ImPCl4×8.5 H2O (C48H75N12O8.5Cl4). Found: C, 52.57; H, 6.86; N, 15.27; Cl, 12.66. Calculated: C, 52.50; H, 6.88; N, 15.31; Cl, 12.91. MnTDE-2-ImPCl5×14 H2O (C48H84N12O14Cl5Mn). Found: C, 44.78; H, 6.51; N, 13.11; Cl, 13.60. Calculated: C, 44.85; H, 6.58; N, 13.08; Cl, 13.79.
Uv/vis spectra of porphyrin ligands and their Mn complexes were taken on a Shimadzu UV-2501-PC spectrophotometer at 25° C. Thin-layer chromatography of ligands and Mn complexes was done using silica gel plates with KNO3satH2O/H2O/acetonitrile=1/1/8.
Electrochemistry. Measurements were performed on a CH Instruments Model 600 Voltammetric Analyzer (Spasojevic and Batinic-Haberle, Inorg. Chim. Acta. 317:230-242 (2001), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998), Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999)). A three-electrode system in a small volume cell (0.5 mL to 3 mL), with a 3 mm-diameter glassy carbon button working electrode (Bioanalytical Systems), plus the Ag/AgCl reference and Pt auxilliary electrodes was used. Argon-purged solutions contained 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.8, 0.1 M NaCl, and 0.5 mM metalloporphyrin. The scan rates were 0.01-0.5 V/s, typically 0.1 V/s. The potentials were standardized against the potassium ferrocyanide/ferricyanide (Kolthof and Tomsicek, J. Phys. Chem. 39:945 (1935)) and/or against MnTE-2-PyP5+ (Spasojevic and Batinic-Haberle, Inorg. Chim. Acta. 317:230-242 (2001), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998), Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999)).
Electrospray mass spectrometry. ESMS measurements were performed on a Micromass Quattro LC triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with a pneumatically assisted electrostatic ion source operating at atmospheric pressure as previously described (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 4:217-227 (2000)). Typically, the 0.5 mM 50% aqueous acetonitrile solutions of chloride salts of metal-free porphyrins or their Mn(III) complexes were introduced by loop injection into a stream of 50% aqueous acetonitrile flowing at 8 μL/min. Mass spectra were acquired in continuum mode, scanning from 100-500 m/z in 5 s, with cone voltages of 20 V and 30 V. The mass scale was calibrated using polyethylene glycol.
Catalysis of O2.− dismutation. The catalytic rate constants for the O2.− dismutation were determined by pulse radiolysis in 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.8) at (22±1)° C. as previously described (Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 40:726 (2001)). In the present study 10 mM formate was used as a scavenger for H. atoms and .OH radicals, which leads first to production of CO2.−) radicals and then to O2.− radicals. This system is known to lead to conversion of all primary radicals of water radiolysis into O2.−.
The pulse radiolysis was used as an alternative method to cytochrome c assay in order to circumvent problems encountered with different cytochrome c preparations. Namely, the kcat values of each porphyrin, determined by cytochrome c assay (McCord and Fridovich, J. Biol. Chem. 244:6049 (1969)), varied from 0.1 to 0.5 log units depending upon the particular cytochrome c preparation used. Sigma-Fluka product #2327009 (#30396) previously used is no longer available (Batinic-Haberle et al, Anal. Biochem. 275:267 (1999)). Problems experienced with Sigma cytochrome c #2506 for studying positively charged Mn porphyrins have been reported (Batinic-Haberle et al, Anal. Biochem. 275:267 (1999)). Similar problems were encountered with cytochrome c #3131. In comparative studies, however, the cytochrome c assay was still used because of its simplicity and product #7752 has been found the best for this purpose among those presently offered by Sigma.
Kinetic salt effect. The dependence of the catalytic rate constant for the O2.− dismutation upon ionic strength was determined by cytochrome c assay (McCord and Fridovich, J. Biol. Chem. 244:6049 (1969)) in 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.8 with NaCl ranging from 0 to 0.4 M. In doing this, the effect of ionic strength on the rate of the O2.−/cytochrome c reaction was corrected for.
Aerobic growth of E. coli. Bacterial strains of E. coli used were wild type AB 1157 (F-thr-I leu-1 proA2 his-4 argE3 thr-1 lacY1 galK2 rpsL supE44 ara-14 xyl-15 mtl-1 tsx-33) and SOD-deficient JI132 (same as AB 1157 plus (sodA::mudPR13)25 (sodB-kan)1-Δ2. Culture media were prepared as follows. M9 medium: 6 g/L Na2HPO4, 3 g/L KH2PO4, 0.5 g/L NaCl, 1 g/L NH4Cl, 2 mM MgSO4, 0.1 mM CaCl2, adjusted to pH 7.4 with NaOH, and supplemented with 0.2% glucose, 3 mg/L each of D-panthotenic acid and thiamine. M9CA medium contained M9 medium plus 0.2% casamino acids. 5-amino acid (5AA) minimal medium contained M9 medium plus 0.5 mM each of threonine, leucine, histidine, proline and arginine (Faulkner et al, J. Biocl. Chem. 269:23471 (1994)).
AB1157 and JI132 were precultured overnight aerobically in M9CA medium at 37° C. and were then diluted to 3×107 cells/mL into 5 mL M9CA medium. JI132 was precultured in the presence of 20 μg/mL chloramphenicol and 500 μg/mL kanamycin. When the cells are transferred from M9CA medium to 5AA minimal medium cultures were first centrifuged and washed twice with the 5AA medium before final dilution in it. The centrifugation was conducted at room temperature to avoid temperature shocks. Cultures without and with Mn porphyrins (0.1 to 30 μM) were grown aerobically in 5 mL volume in test tubes in a thermostated orbital shaker (45° angle, 200 rpm) at 37° C.). Rates of growth were followed turbidimetrically at 700 nm to minimize interference from the absorbance of test compounds.
Catalysis of O2.− dismutation in the presence of E. coli cell extract and albumin. The cytochrome c assay (McCord and Fridovich, J. Biol. Chem. 244:6049 (1969)) was used to test SOD-like activity in the presence and absence of E. coli cell extract. SOD-deficient E. coli (JI132, ΔsodA/ΔsodB) was used for cell extract preparations. Extracts were prepared from 6 hour-cultures which were washed twice in 0.05 M phosphate buffer, re-suspended in the buffer and disrupted with a French press. The lysate was clarified by centrifugation and the supernatant used for experiments. The SOD activity was examined with or without JI132 cell lysate. Before examination, the cell extracts containing 1, 10, or 100 μg/mL proteins were incubated for 4 hours at 4° C. with Mn porphyrins.
Thin-layer chromatography. The retention factors, Rf (porphyrin path/solvent path) for porphyrins ligands and their Mn complexes are given in Table 1. All new methoxyporphyrins are more lipophilic than MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTDE-2-ImP5+.
Uv/vis spectroscopy. The porphyrins obeyed the Beer-Lambert law from 10−7 M to 10−5 M, and the uv/vis data are given in Table 2. A red shift averaging 1-2 nm was generally observed as the result of the increased porphyrin nucleus distortion due to the enhanced crowding upon replacement of n-butyl with methoxyethyl groups. The red shift was accompanied by an increase in ∈ of up to 0.1 log unit. The Soret bands of di-ortho H2TDE-2-ImP4+ and its Mn complex are blue-shifted by 7 and 8 nm, respectively when compared to the mono ortho pyridyl analogues as a consequence of increased electron-withdrawing effect due to charge delocalization. This observation parallels the markedly increased metal-centered redox potential of imidazolylporphyrins vs pyridylporphyrins.
In the presence of ascorbic acid, at pH 7.8 (0.05 M tris buffer), under aerobic conditions, Mn(III) porphyrins are readily reduced. Under these conditions porphyrins underwent oxidative degradation. As previously observed (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)), those porphyrins that are of more positive E1/2 are stabilized in +2 oxidation state and are less prone to oxidative damage. Accordingly, 27% and 24% of MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ undergo degradation within 2 hours, but only 2% of MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+ and MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ and 3% of MnTDE-2-ImP5+. The same level of stability was previously observed with n-hexyl and n-octyl porphyrins (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)).
Electrochemistry. All cyclic voltammograms, ascribed to the Mn(III)/Mn(II) redox couple, are reversible. The metal-centered redox potentials, E1/2 are listed in Table 1. The E1/2 of di-ortho ethylimidazolylporphyrin, MnTDE-2-ImP5+ is 118 mV more positive than of ortho ethylpyridylporphyrin, MnTE-2-PyP5+ (+228 mV vs NHE), as a consequence of charge delocalization. A similar difference of 114 mV was seen between their methoxyethyl analogues. Mn porphyrins bearing N-pyridyl substituents of the same length, MnTnBu-PyP5+ and MnTMOE-2-PyP5+, have nearly identical E1/2 of +254 and +251 mV vs NHE, which is 26 and 23 mV higher than that of MnTE-PyP5+.
Electrospray mass spectrometry. ESMS has proven invaluable in identifying metal-free porphyrins and their Mn complexes (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 4:217-227 (2000)). When done at low cone voltage of 20 V, the spectra clearly reflect solvation and ion pairing, redox properties, protonation/deprotonation pattern, and dealkylation of these compounds.
Metal-free porphyrins. ESMS at 20 V cone voltage. The ESMS spectra are shown in FIG. 2 and the assignments of peaks in Table 3. The ESMS of metal-free porphyrins showed dominant ions assigned to H2P4+/4 and/or its monodeprotonated analogue, H2P4+—H+/3. As is the case with H2TnBu-2-PyP4+, the major peak in ESMS of its methoxyethyl analogue, H2TMOE-2-PyP4+, is the monodeprotonated species. Nearly equal abundances of molecular and monodeprotonated ions were observed with H2TM,MOE-2-ImP4+ and H2TDMOE-2-ImP4+. Negligible double deprotonation was observed in the case of H2TMOE-2-PyP4+ and minor peaks were noted with H2TM,MOE-2-ImP4+ and H2TDMOE-2-ImP4+. Only minor solvation was observed with H2TE-2-PyP4+ and H2TMOE-2-PyP4+.
Methoxyethyl porphyrins are more prone to fragmentation when compared to their alkylated analogues. Loss of ethyl or methoxyethyl groups is less frequent with di-ortho substituted imidazolyl porphyrins. This may be due to the stabilization of these porphyrins by ethyl(methyl) or methoxyethyl chains distributed both above and below the porphyrin plane. The most stable towards fragmentation is H2TDE-2-ImP4+, which undergoes negligible loss of an ethyl group (2.5% abundance) in contrast to H2TE-2-PyP4+ where 25% of monodeethylated species was seen. No loss of methyl groups were observed in the ESMS of H2TM,MOE-2-ImP4+.
In addition to the loss of methoxyethyl groups, species consistent with the loss of .CH2OCH3 were observed. These can only result from the fission within N+—CH2—CH2—O—CH3. Similar findings were previously reported for mesoporphyrin-IX dimethyl ester, where the so-called “benzylic” fission of .CH2—COO—CH3 from methyl propionate was detected (Smith, Mass Spectrometry of Porphyrins and Metalloporphyrins in Porphyrins and Metalloporphyrins, Smith, ed., Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, p. 388 (1975)).
ESMS at 30 V cone voltage. At higher cone voltage the ratio of monodeprotonated to molecular ion increases. Also higher abundances of species that result from the loss of multiple N-pyridyl substituents were seen. Again, the most stable compound was H2TDE-2-ImP4+ where no loss of two ethyl groups was observed. With H2TDMOE-2-ImP4+ only negligible loss of two methoxyethyl groups were observed.
Mn(III) porphyrins. ESMS at 20 V cone voltage. The ESMS spectra are shown in FIG. 3, and the assignments of peaks are given in Table 3. Species solvated with 1 to 5 acetonitriles were observed. The negligible solvation of parent ligands argues for the location of solvent molecules around the metal site. The least solvated is the most lipophilic MnTnBu-2-PyP5+.
Molecular ions were detected at low abundance. All Mn porphyrins studied undergo facile reduction. Thus, in ESMS spectra, the major peaks that are of similar intensities, relate to the oxidized and reduced Mn porphyrins associated with one or two chlorines. The longer the N-pyridyl and N,N′-di-imidazolyl substituents the higher abundance of species associated with two chlorines. In addition, due to hydrogen bonding, higher abundances of chlorinated ions were seen in the ESMS of methoxyethyl compounds when compared to their alkyl analogues. The abundances of oxidized and reduced species were nearly identical in each of the ESMS other than in the case of MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+, where more of the oxidized species was seen. This observation is surprising in view of its high E1/2, but is consistent with it showing the lowest kcat among the methoxyethyl compounds. In the spectra of all methoxyethyl compounds doubly reduced species were seen. Similar observations with n-butyl, n-hexyl and n-octyl porphyrins were previously reported, and such peaks were assigned to species that are doubly reduced at the metal site (MnIP3+/3) or at both the metal site and porphyrin ring (MnIIP3+./3).
Mn(III) pyridyl porphyrins that bear n-butyl or methoxyethyl groups of the same overall chain length have very similar patterns of fragmentation. In their ESMS major peaks that are of similar abundances, relate to the monochlorinated reduced porphyrin and monochlorinated species that lost one N-pyridyl substituent. MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ is more hydrophilic, permitting increased hydrogen bonding inside the cavity. Therefore, more solvated species, species that lost charged N-pyridyl substituent/s and the species associated with two chlorines were observed.
As was the case with the metal-free ligands, Mn methoxyethyl porphyrins are more prone to fragmentation than their alkyl analogues. As with the ligands, Mn di-ortho imidazolyl porphyrins become stabilized towards fragmentation. Namely, only minor loss of methoxyethyl (MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+) or ethyl (MnTDE-2-ImP5+) groups was seen. The same has previously been observed with long-chain N-alkylpyridylporphyrins such as the n-hexyl and n-octyl compounds (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). Thus, the abundance of monodealkylated species was increased from methyl to n-butyl, and decreased from n-butyl to n-octyl (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). As with the ligands, fission within N+—CH2—CH2—O—CH3 was observed with loss of the .CH2—O—CH3 radical (Smith, Mass Spectrometry of Porphyrins and Metalloporphyrins in Porphyrins and Metalloporphyrins, Smith, ed., Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, p. 388 (1975)).
ESMS at 30 V cone voltage. At the higher cone voltage, solvation was only observed with MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ suggesting that it has a large capacity for hydrogen bonding due to the highest overall number of oxygen atoms. At higher cone voltage the abundance of oxidized species is greatly decreased. The major ions correspond to the monochlorinated reduced species except in the case of MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+, where the abundance of reduced species has been increased by a mere 5% when compared to the ESMS obtained at 20 V. More of the monodealkylated and monodemethoxylated species were observed at higher cone voltage except in the ESMS of MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+. No significant differences in fragmentation at 20 V and 30 V were observed for MnTDMOE-2-Imp5+.
Catalysis of O2.− dismutation. Pulse radiolysis was used to assess the SOD-like activities of the Mn porphyrins studied. The initial concentration of O2.− produced by the pulse was about 27 μM, and the concentration of the Mn porphyrin was between 0.5 and 5 μM. The dismutation of O2.− was followed at 280 nm. The catalytic rate constant was determined from the linear dependence of kobs upon the concentration of the catalyst (Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 40:726 (2001)). The log kcat values are summarized in Table 1. All the new compounds have high O2.− dismuting ability. The magnitude of the catalysis is due to the interplay of the electron-withdrawing effects of quaternized ortho pyridyl or di-ortho imidazolyl groups, favorable electrostatics, and the solvation of the metal site.
With N-alkylpyridylporphyrins, it was previously observed that increased lipophilicity, i.e. desolvation of the porphyrinic compounds, led to increased E1/2. This is because the more deshielded positive N-pyridyl charges impose a stronger electron-withdrawing effect. Therefore, MnTnBu-2-PyP5+ has higher E1/2 value than MnTE-2-PyP5+, but is catalytically less potent (Table 1). Such data had been previously explained by the interplay of solvation and electrostatic/steric effects (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). In this study, evidence arose in support of a dominant solvation effect and is discussed below. Namely, methoxyethylpyridylporphyrin was synthesized that has N-pyridyl substituents of the same size that impose similar steric effects as do n-butyl side chains in MnTnBu-2-PyP5+. In addition, MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ and MnTnBu-2-PyP5+ have the same E1/2, but MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ has 6-fold higher kcat (Table 1). The methoxyethyl compound is more hydrated mostly due to the promotion of hydrogen bonding induced by the presence of oxygen in place of the —CH2 group in contrast to the lipophilic n-butyl porphyrin. Therefore, the differences in local dielectric constant alone may be responsible for the higher kcat value obtained in the case of MnTMOE-2-PyP5+. Such an observation agrees well with the explanation offered by Ferrer-Sueta et al for the reaction of Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins with ONOO− (Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003)). Those authors observed equal sensitivity of pKa,ax (acid dissociation constant of the axially bound water), and k(ONOO−) to the changes in the length of the alkyl chains, as reported here with kcat. Since the proton dissociation of an axial water is a unimolecular process, such observations can only be ascribed to changes in the local dielectric constant (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). That presumably accounts also for the observed sensitivity of metallation and demetallation rates of Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins to the changes in the length of alkyl chains (Espenson, Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, p. 172 (1981)).
Kinetic salt effect. The effect of the ionic strength (μ) on the catalytic rate constant was assessed using eq [1] which is based on Debye-Huckel relation (Hambright et al, J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 7:139-146 (2003)) for the effect of the ionic strength of the solution on the activity coefficient of an ion.

log k=log kref+2 AzAzBμ1/2/(1+μ1/2)  [1]

The k is the rate constant at any given ionic strength, while kref is the rate constant at μ=0. The A is a collection of physical constants with a value of 0.509 and zA and zB are the charges of the reacting species. The equation predicts a linear plot of log k vs μ1/2/(1+μ1/2). Eq [1] assumes a coefficient of 1.0 (βai) for μ1/2 in the denominator, i.e., the distance of the closest approach, ai to be 3 A and β is a physical constant, 0.33×10−10m−1. It is doubtful whether great significance can be attributed to the ai, thus to the product zAzB (Hambright et al, J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 7:139-146 (2003)), especially so in the light of the bulkiness, high charge and solvation shell of the metalloporphyrins. Accounting for the mono- and diprotonated phosphates as the major species at pH 7.8 (pKa=7.2), and the concentration of the NaCl, the ionic strength was calculated using equation μ=1⁄2Σmizi2 where mi is the molality and zi the charge of the given ion.

Linear plots of log kcat vs μ1/2/(1+μ1/2) (eq [1]) are presented in FIG. 4. The slopes of the plots are −6.48 (MnTE-2-PyP5+), −7.02 (MnTMOE-2-PyP5+), −7.38 (MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+), and −4.15 (MnTnBu-2-PyP5+). As expected (Hambright et al, J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 7:139-146 (2003)), when the reactants are ions of opposite charges, the higher the ionic strength of the solution the lower the rate constants, i.e. the slopes are negative. The slopes of the plots indicate clearly the impact of the local dielectric constant on the kcat. The kcat of the most lipophilic compound, MnTnBu-2-PyP5+ is 40% less sensitive to the changes in ionic strength of the solution than is the kcat of its methoxyethyl analogue, MnTMOE-2-PyP5+.
Aerobic growth of E. coli. The effects of the Mn porphyrin mimics of SOD activity on the aerobic growth of SOD-deficient and wild type E. coli were examined in both the 5AA minimal and M9CA media, under aerobic conditions.
5AA minimal medium. FIGS. 5A and 5B show that the growth of the wild type E. coli in 5AA minimal medium was not significantly influenced by these compounds up to 25 μM with the exception of the n-hexyl and n-octyl porphyrins which were toxic, Thus at 3 μM n-hexyl slowed the growth (line 6, FIG. 5A) while the n-octyl porphyrin completely inhibited growth of the wild type E. coli (line, FIG. 5A). In contrast, the SOD-deficient strain could not grow in the 5AA minimal medium (lines 1 in 5C and 5D), and the SOD mimics facilitated growth. Thus the n-hexyl porphyrin was most effective at 3 μM (line 6 in FIG. 5C), and the n-butyl analogue was nearly as effective (line 5 in FIG. 5C). The MnTDMOE-2-PyP5+ (line 11 in FIG. 5C) was the most effective methoxyethyl porphyrin, and was more protective than MnTE-2-PyP5+ (line 3, FIG. 5C) and MnTDE-2-ImP5+ (line 9, FIG. 5C). When tested at 25 μM the MnTE-2-PyP5+ and its n-propyl analogue were most effective (lines 3 and 4, FIG. 5D); with methyl, methoxyethylpyridyl and dimethoxyethylimidazolyl porphyrins not far behind (FIG. 5D, lines 2, 5, 8 and 11). The n-hexyl porphyrin that had complemented at 3 μM (line 6 in FIG. 5C) failed to do so at 25 μM; presumably due to toxicity at the higher concentration. The insets in FIGS. 5C and 5D allow more rapid assessment of the effects of these compounds on the growth of the SOD-deficient E. coli. 
M9CA medium. Similar to the case in 5AA minimal medium, all of the porphyrins, other than longer alkyl chain analogues, were not toxic to wild type E. coli, up to 30 μM levels. Thus, at 30 μM n-hexyl and n-octyl compounds prevented wild type E. coli to grow, while only marginal toxicity was observed with 30 μM n-butyl. Although unable to grow in aerobic minimal medium, the SOD-deficient strain does grow slowly in M9CA medium. The effects of 1, 3, 10 and 30 μM SOD mimics on the growth of the SOD-deficient strain are presented in FIGS. 6A-D. The n-hexyl porphyrin was most effective at 1 and 3 μM (line 6 in FIGS. 6A and 6B), but was progressively less effective at 10 and 30 μM (line 6 in FIGS. 6C and 6D); undoubtedly due to its toxicity at these high concentrations. The n-butyl analogue, that was most effective at 10 and 30 μM, was less effective in promoting growth at 1 and 3 μM (line 5 in FIGS. 6A-D).
MnTM-2-PyP5+, MnTME-2-PyP5+, MnTnPr-2-PyP5+, MnTDE-2-ImP5+, as well as methoxyethyl porphyrins facilitated aerobic growth of SOD-deficient E. coli in concentration-dependent manner. At 1 μM all of them (lines 2, 3, 4, 8-11, FIG. 6B) offered low protection to SOD-deficient E. coli. At 3 μM levels MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ (line 11 in FIG. 6B) was the most effective (next to n-butyl and n-hexyl), and was more protective than MnTE-2-PyP5+ (line 3, FIG. 6B), while MnTDE-2-ImP5+ was ineffective (line 9, FIG. 6B). At 30 μM all of them offered either much higher or near full protection to SOD-deficient E. coli (lines, 2-4, 8-11, FIG. 6D).
The data in FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the long chain alkyl groups provide great efficacy that was offset by a concentration-dependent toxicity. It was therefore of interest to examine the growth promoting activity of the n-hexyl and n-octyl porphyrins over a wide range of concentrations. The effects of these compounds in the range of 0.1 to 30 μM on the growth of both SOD-deficient and SOD-proficient strains are presented in FIGS. 7A-D. FIG. 7A shows that the n-hexyl begins to exert toxicity on the parental strain at 3 μM. FIG. 7C demonstrates the greater toxicity of the octyl compound that becomes observable already at 0.3 μM. The n-butyl compound exerted marginal toxicity at 30 μM. Therefore, it appears that for each increase in the number of carbon atoms by 2 (CH2—CH2—) from n-butyl to n-octyl, the toxicity increases  ̃10-fold.
In accord with these results, the n-hexyl compound was most able to facilitate the growth of SOD-deficient strain between 0.3 and 3 μM (FIG. 7B), while the utility of n-octyl porphyrin was restricted to ≦0.3 μM (FIG. 7D). At 0.3 μM n-hexyl and n-octyl porphyrins (FIGS. 7B and 7D) are equally protective as are 10 μM MnTM-2-PyP5+, MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ (FIG. 6C, lines 2, 3 and 11).
Catalysis of O2.− dismutation in the presence and absence of E. coli cell extract. It has been previously found that ortho MnTM-2-PyP5+ associates less with DNA and RNA as compared to the planar para isomer, MnTM-4-PyP5+ (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998)). Consequently, MnTM-4-PyP5+ was able to catalyze O2.− dismutation in the presence of E. coli cell extract only if nucleic acids were removed from it. Further, Tjahjono et al (Tjahjono et al, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1472:333-343 (1999)) reported that diortho metal-free tetrakis(N,N′-dimethylimidazolium-2-yl)porphyrin interacted with calf thymus DNA  ̃10-fold less than H2TM-4-PyP4+. In line with these findings, all of the new compounds would not associate with nucleic acids as they are non-planar, bulky, either ortho pyridyl- or diorthoimidazolyl-substituted porphyrins. Thus, they exhibited the same SOD-like activity in the presence and absence of E. coli cell extract.
Discussion
O2.− dismuting ability of Mn porphyrins. A linear relationship has been established between the log kcat for the O2.− dismutation (eqs [2] and [3])3 and metal-centered redox potential of Mn(III)




porphyrins (Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999)). The relationship obeys the Marcus equation (Marcus, Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 15:155 (1964), Jordan, Reaction Mechanisms of Inorganic and Organometallic Systems, 2nd Ed., Oxford University Press, New York (1998), Bennet, Prog. Inorg. Chem. 18:1-176 (1973)) whereby kcat increases 10-fold with each 120 mV increase in E1/2. The Marcus equation, for outer-sphere one-electron transfer reactions (Marcus, Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 15:155 (1964)) is applicable because kcat is determined by the rate-limiting reduction of Mn(III) porphyrins with O2.− (eq [2], see the rising limb of the bell shape curve in FIG. 8). The most potent catalysts which emerge from this structure-activity relationship, MnTM-2-PyP5+ and MnTE-2-PyP5+, owe their potency to the electron-withdrawing effect of quaternized ortho pyridyl nitrogens. These ortho porphyrins are more bulky than their planar para isomers, and that minimizes the unfavorable interactions with DNA and RNA; a vital property if the compounds are to be used as SOD mimics in vivo. At +228 mV vs NHE (1,2,5) the reduction of MnTE-2-PyP5+ by O2.− proceeds with a rate constant of 2.5×107 M−1 s−1 and oxidation by 8.2×107 M−1 s−1 (1). That is the case because the midway potential (+360 mV vs NHE) for the reduction and oxidation of O2.− is being approached, which provides an equal thermodynamic driving force for both half-reactions of catalytic cycle (eqs [2] and [3]). Thus, Cu,Zn-SOD with E1/2 of  ̃+300 mV vs NHE reduces and oxidizes O2.− with equal rate constants of 2×109 M−1 s−1 (pH 7.8) (Vance and Miller, Biochemistry 40:13079 (2001), (a) Lawrence and Sawyer, Biochemistry 18:3045 (1979), (b) Barrette et al, Biochemistry 22:624 (1983), Ellerby et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118:6556 (1996), Vance and Miller, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:461 (1998), Klug-Roth et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 95:2786 (1973)). Any further increase or decrease in E1/2 stabilizes Mn+2 or +3 oxidation state so that either oxidation of Mn(II) compounds (M40403 (Cuzzocrea et al, Br. J. Pharmacol. 132:19-29 (2001), Aston et al, Inorg. Chem. 40:1779 (2001), Riley, Adv. Supramol. Chem. 6:217-244 (2000), (a) Riley et al, Inorg. Chem. 35:5213 (1996), (b), Riley and Weiss, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116:387 (1994)) and MnIICl2 (Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 40:726 (2001)) or reduction of Mn(III) compounds, respectively, become rate-limiting step accompanied by a decrease in log kcat. The Marcus equation is again obeyed in the region where the oxidation of Mn(II) compounds is a rate-limiting step (falling limb of FIG. 8). While the SOD-like activity of Mn porphyrins (Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999), Kachadourian et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:391-396 (1999), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002), Batinic-Haberle et al, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 343:225 (1997), Kachadourian et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 25(Suppl 1):S17 (1998)) has been maximized thermodynamically, kinetic enhancement remains possible.

Study of the structural basis for the antioxidant ability of MnTE-2-PyP5+ led to the design of the imidazolyl analogue, MnTDE-2-ImP5+. Both compounds have been proven beneficial in different models of oxidative stress injuries (Tao et al, Circulation 108:2805-2811 (2003), Sheng et al, J. Neurotrauma, In press (2003), Sheng et al, Drug News and Perspectives 15:654-665 (2002), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:947-961 (2002), Vujaskovic et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:857-863 (2002), Piganelli et al, Diabetes 51:347-355 (2002), Trostchansky et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 35:1293-1300 (2003), Mackensen et al, J. Neurosci. 21:4582-4592 (2001), Aslan et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:15215-15220 (2001), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. In preparation (2003), Bottino et al, Diabetes 51:2561-2567 (2002), Bowler et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:1141-1152 (2002)). The MnTDE-2-ImP5+ has both ortho imidazolyl nitrogens substituted with alkyl chains. The positive charge is thus delocalized over both nitrogens, providing greater proximity to the meso porphyrin carbons, which imposes a stronger electron-withdrawing effect than does the positively charged ortho pyridyl nitrogens. Consequently, MnTDE-2-Imp5+ and other imidazolyl compounds synthesized in this work have more than 100 mV higher E1/2 than analogous pyridyl porphyrins (Table 1). However, for the reasons discussed above, no further increase in kcat has been gained.
It has been shown that both kcat(O2.−) (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Biol. Chem. 273:24521-24528 (1998), Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 38:4011-4022 (1999), Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)) and the rate constant for ONOO− (Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003), Ferrer-Sueta et al, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12:442-449 (1999)) reduction by Mn porphyrins are proportional to the electron-deficiency of the porphyrin (measured as E1/2 for MnIII/MnII redox couple), and are thus proportional to each other (Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003)). It can therefore be expected that these new compounds will be effective scavengers of ONOO− as well. (Although the reduction of ONOO− involves the O═MnIV/MnIII redox couple, the dependence of the rate constant for ONOO− reduction by Mn(III) porphyrins upon the E1/2 of MnIII/MnII redox couple is observed because the rate-limiting step in reduction of ONOO− is its binding to the manganese (Ferrer-Sueta et al, J. Biol. Chem. 278:27432-27438 (2003)). Further, as their reducibility is increased along with increased E1/2, they would be more readily reduced by cellular reductants, whereby the pro-oxidant action of Mn(III) or O═Mn(IV) porphyrins would be prevented (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002), Trostchansky et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 35:1293-1300 (2003), Ferrer-Sueta et al, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12:442-449 (1999), Bloodsworth et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 28:1017-1029 (2000)). As already mentioned, Mn porphyrins have the ability to scavenge a wide range of ROS and RNS. That may make them advantageous over more selective antioxidants such as cyclic polyamines (Cuzzocrea et al, Br. J. Pharmacol. 132:19-29 (2001), Aston et al, Inorg. Chem. 40:1779 (2001), Riley, Adv. Supramol. Chem. 6:217-244 (2000), (a) Riley et al, Inorg. Chem. 35:5213 (1996), (b), Riley and Weiss, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116:387 (1994)), that were reported to lack reactivity towards H2O2, ONOO−, NO and HClO (Cuzzocrea et al, Br. J. Pharmacol. 132:19-29 (2001)).
Improving bioavailability of Mn porphyrins. Stroke (Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:947-961 (2002)) and spinal cord injury (Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. In preparation (2003)) studies indicate that the toxicity and bioavailability of MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTDE-2-ImP5+ could be favorably modified. The imidazolyl compound exerts 16-fold lower neurotoxicity in a stroke model than does the pyridyl compound (Sheng et al, Drug News and Perspectives 15:654-665 (2002), Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:947-961 (2002), Mackensen et al, J. Neurosci. 21:4582-4592 (2001)). Since both compounds are of similar in vitro antioxidant potency, the lower neurotoxicity of MnTDE-2-ImP5+ was ascribed to its higher metal-centered redox potential and/or bulkiness as it has ethyl groups distributed above and below the porphyrin plane. However, possibly for the same reasons, MnTDE-2-ImP5+ lacks protectiveness in spinal cord injury as compared to MnTE-2-PyP5+ when both compounds are given intravenously (Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. In preparation (2003)). In addition, the excessive hydrophilic character of both compounds limits their transport across the blood brain and spinal cord barrier and thus diminishes their ability to protect (Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 33:947-961 (2002)).
The lipophilicity and bulkiness of the parent compound, MnTE-2-PyP5+, has been increased by increasing the length of N-pyridyl alkyl chains up to n-octyl (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). With no loss of antioxidant capacity the lipophilicity was increased nearly 10-fold from methyl to n-octyl compound (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)), Table 1 and FIG. 9A, inset). The E. coli study shows that the increase in the alkyl chain length increases the toxicity of these compounds, so that 30 μM n-hexyl and n-octyl porphyrins prevent wild type E. coli from growing. In a separate experiment both metal-free n-octyl and its Mn(III) complex proved equally toxic. Thus, it may be the surfactant character, rather than the redox property, of the porphyrin that causes the toxicity. However, at 100-fold lower concentration (0.3 μM), the toxicity of n-hexyl and n-octyl compounds was mostly eliminated, and at 0.3 μM both compounds offered the same level of protection as the methyl and ethyl porphyrins did at 10 μM, and the n-butyl did at 3 μM.
FIG. 9 indicates a similarity by which in vitro SOD potency (kcat) of N-alkylpyridylporphyrins and protection of SOD-deficient E. coli depend upon lipophilicity index, Rf. From methyl to n-propyl the protection of SOD-deficient E. coli decreases slightly as a consequence of the decrease in kcat (FIG. 6B, lines 2, 3 and 4). The decrease in kcat with increase in Rf occurs because the ionic dismutation reactions are hindered by the local lipophilicity (FIG. 9A, inset). (From methyl to n-octyl metal-centered redox potential increases linearly with Rf (Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). As the lipophilicity increases further from n-butyl to n-octyl, the effect of the metal-centered redox potential prevails and kcat starts to increase (FIG. 9A, inset). Eventually, methyl and n-octyl are of same SOD-like potency (discussed in detail in Batinic-Haberle et al, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002)). The ability to protect E. coli follows the same trend; yet, rather than from n-butyl, it increases from n-propyl to n-octyl (lines 5 and 6 in FIG. 6B, FIG. 9). More importantly, the increase in protection increases at higher pace than does SOD-like activity. Therefore, a 30-fold higher protection of n-octyl vs methyl porphyrin is probably due to  ̃10-fold higher lipophilicity of n-octyl compound.
A new series of analogues of potent SOD mimics, MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTDE-2-ImP5+ have been described herein (FIG. 1). MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ is a methoxyethyl analogue of MnTE-2-PyP5+ with two-fold higher SOD-like activity. It is similarly bulky as MnTnBu-2-PyP5+ since it has one —CH2 group of each n-butyl chain replaced with oxygen. Moreover, such modification diminishes surfactant character of the alkyl chains. The MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ has the same metal-centered redox potential of +251 mV vs NHE as the n-butyl compound (+254 mV vs NHE), but a 6-fold higher catalytic potency (Table 1), the highest among the Mn porphyrin-based SOD mimics thus far prepared. The enhanced antioxidant capacity when compared to the MnTnBu-2-PyP5+ is due to the increased hydration of MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ that favors ionic O2− dismutation reactions (eqs [2] and [3]). Such a conclusion is also supported by a much greater sensitivity of the kcat of MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ to the ionic strength variations (FIG. 4).
In the same manner, the imidazolyl compound, MnTDE-2-ImP5+ has been modified. Two porphyrins were synthesized that have either all eight ethyl groups replaced by methoxyethyl chains (MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+), or have the imidazole nitrogens substituted by four methyl and four methoxyethyl groups (MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+) (FIG. 1).
All three newly synthesized methoxyethylporphyrins have similar SOD-like activity and lipophilicity (Table 1), and are not toxic to E. coli under all conditions tested. Their kcat values are the same in the presence and absence of E. coli cell extract. However, the new compounds differ in their ability to protect E. coli from oxidative stress. At ≦3 μM levels MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ with highest number of oxygen atoms is the most protective to E. coli among methoxyethyl porphyrins (FIG. 10). It is also more protective than MnTE-2-PyP5+, while MnTDE-2-ImP5+ is the least effective. While MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ and MnDTE-2-ImP5+ have very similar kcat, E1/2 and Rf (Table 1), the latter lacks oxygens in its structure, and that may be the source of its inefficiency. The data are in accord with a spinal cord study which suggests that MnTDE-2-ImP5+ was less effective in passing the spinal cord blood barrier than MnTE-2-PyP5+, when both compounds are given intravenously (Sheng et al, Free Radic. Biol. Med. In preparation (2003)).
In summary, it has been shown that the modification of the catalytic antioxidants MnTE-2-PyP5+ and MnTDE-2-ImP5+, either by increasing the length of the side chains or introducing oxygen atoms, results in compounds, such as MnTnHex(nOct)-2-PyP5+ and MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+, which can be promising for the treatment of oxidative stress injuries.
The abbreviations used herein are: MnIII/IIP5+/4+ any Mn porphyrin in oxidized and reduced state, MnT(alkyl)-2-PyP5+, Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-alkylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin; alkyl being methyl (M), ethyl (E), n-propyl (nPr), n-butyl (nBu), n-hexyl (nHex) and n-octyl (nOct). MnTDE-2-ImP5+, Mn(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N,N′-diethylimidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin, this porphyrin has previously (Sheng et al, Drug News and Perspectives 15:654-665 (2002)) and elsewhere) been erroneously abbreviated as MnTDE-1,3-ImP5+, whereby 1 and 3 were indicating the imidazolyl nitrogens, rather than the position 2 where the imidazolyl is attached to the porphyrin ring; MnTMOE-2-PyP5+ (MOE), Mn(III) tetrakis 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-(2-methoxyethyl)pyridinium-2-yl]porphyrin; MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+ (M,MOE), Mn(III) tetrakis 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N-methyl-N′—(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin; MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+ (DMOE), Mn(III) tetrakis 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[N,N′-di(2-methoxyethyl)imidazolium-2-yl]porphyrin; NHE, normal hydrogen electrode; SOD, superoxide dismutase; ROS and RNS reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. SOD-deficient, ΔsodA/ΔsodB, JI132 E. coli; SOD-proficient wild type, AB1157 E. coli; 5AA, 5 amino acids; M9CA, M9 casamino acids medium; LB, Luria-Bertani Medium; NHE, normal hydrogen electrode. The porphyrin having Mn in its +3 state is assigned as a neutral species.
The entire content of all documents cited herein are incorporated herein by reference, as is: Improving bioavailability of SOD mimics. Comparison of new Mn(III) methoxyethylpyridyl- and imidazolylporphyrins with Mn(III) N-alkylpyridylporphyrins in complementing SOD-deficient E. coli by Ines Batinic-Haberle, Ayako Okado-Matsumoto, Ivan Spasojevic, Robert D. Stevens, Peter Hambright, Pedatsur Neta, Irwin Fridovich, J. Biol. Chem. Submitted.
TABLES







TABLE 1







Metal-centered redox potentials E1/2, log kcat for O2 dismutation and


chromatographic Rf values for Mn(III) porphyrins.










Porphyrin
E/12, mV vs NHEa
log kcatb
Rfc













MnTMOE-2-PyP5+
+251
8.04
0.16(0.18)


MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+
+356
7.98
0.15(0.17)


MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+
+365
7.59
0.21(0.24)


MnTDE-2-ImP5+
+346
7.83
0.17(0.23)


MnTM-2-PyP5+d
+220
7.79
0.09(0.13)


MnTE-2-PyP5+d
+228
7.73e
0.13(0.21)


MnTnPr-2-PyP5+d
+238
7.38
0.20(0.31)


MnTnBu-2-PyP5+d
+254
7.25
0.33(0.46)


MnTnHex-2-PyP5+d
+314
7.48
0.57(0.63)


MnTnOct-2-PyP5+d
+367
7.71
0.08(0.86)





aE1/2 (±3 mV) determined in 0.1 M NaCl, 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.8.


bkcat (±30%) determined by pulse radiolysis, pH 7.8, (22 ± 1) ° C.;


cRf, compound path/solvent path on silica gel TLC plates in KNO3-saturated H2O/H2O/acetonitrile = 1/1/8, Rf for metal-free porphyrins are in parenthesis.


dData from Batinic-Haberle et al, , J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002).


eData from Batinic-Haberle et al, Inorg. Chem. 40: 726 (2001).













TABLE 2







Molar absorptivities of methoxyethyl porphyrins,


H2TDE-2-ImP5+ and their Mn complexes.








Porphyrin
λmax (log ε)a





H2TMOE-2-PyP4+
416(5.44), 512.5(4.34), 545(3.68), 584(3.93),



636.5(3.46)


H2TDE-2-ImP4+
407(5.26), 507(4.23), 541(3.83), 578.5 (3.87),



630(3.87)


H2TM,MOE-2-ImP4+
408.5(5.27), 507.5(4.26), 541(3.87), 580(3.90),



632.5(3.89)


H2TDMOE-2-ImP4+
411(5.22), 509.5(4.19) 542.5(3.82),



581(3.83), 634(3.86)


MnTMOE-2-PyP55+
364.5(4.75), 413(4.41), 455(5.24), 500(3.84),



558.5(4.16), 785(3.34)


MnTDE-2-ImP5+
348.5(4.66), 446(5.08), 505.5(3.77), 553(4.06),



588(3.95), 795(3.34)


MnTM,MOE-2-ImP5+
349(4.73), 412.5(4.53), 447.5(5.14), 503.5(3.80),



553.5(4.13), 588.5(4.04), 799(3.34)


MnTDMOE-2-ImP5+
350(4.67), 4.14(4.48), 448.5(5.09), 503(3.74),



555(4.08), 590(4.02), 803.5(3.33)





aMolar absorptivities were determined in water at room temperature.













TABLE 3







ESMS of methoxyethylporphyrins and their alkyl analogues.a














Porphyrin
EPyPb
nBub
MOEPyP
m/z
DEImP
M,MOEImP
DMOImP

















H2P4+/4
184
212
214

201
217
261


H2P4+ + AN/4
194
222
224

211
227


H2P4+—H+/3
245
282
285

267
289
347


H2P4+—H+ + AN/3
258


H2P4+-a+-H+ + CH3+/3


270


274
333


H2P4+-a+/3
235
263
265

258
269
328


H2P4+-a+-H+/2 
352
394
398

386c
403c
491c


H2P4+-2a+/2

366c
368

372c
374c
462c


H2P4+-2a+ + H+/3




249c


H2P4+-a+-a-2H+




743c


H2P4+-3a+


677


H2P4+-3a++H+/2




239c


H2P4+-a+ + CH3+/4



203

206
250


H2P4+-2a+ + CH3+/3


251c


255
313


H2P4+-2a+ + 2CH3+/4


192


195
239


H2P4+-3a+ + CH3+/2


346c


352c


H2P4+-3a+ + 2CH3+/3


236


H2P4+-3a+ + 2CH3+-H+/2


324c


H2P4+-4a+ + CH3+


633c


H2P4+-2H+/2
367
423
426

400
432
520c


H2P4+—H+ + Cl−/2




418
450





a~0.5 mM solutions of porphyrins in 1:1 = acetonitrile:H2O, 20 V cone voltage, a is either alkyl or methoxyethyl group.


bBatinic-Haberle et al, , J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002).


c30 V cone voltage. The fission of CH2 —O—CH3 radical from methoxyethyl group is noted for simplicity as the loss of methoxyethyl (a+) and the gain of CH3+.













TABLE 4







ESMS of Mn(III) methoxyethylporphyrins, and their alkyl analogues.a









m/z













Porphyrins
EPyPb
nBub
MOEPyP
DEImP
M,MOEImP
DMOEImP
















MnIIIP5+/5
157

181
171
184
219


MnIIIP5+ + AN/5
166
188
190
179
193
227


MnIIIP5+ + 2AN/5
174
196
198
187
201
236


MnIIIP5+ + 3AN/5
182
205
206
195
209
244


MnIIIP5+ + 4AN/5
190
213
214
204

252


MnIIIP5+ + 5AN/5





260


MnIIIP5+ + Cl−/4
206
234
236
223
239
283


MnIIIP5+ + Cl− + AN/4
216


MnIIIP5+ + 2Cl−/3
286
323
326
309
330
389


MnIIIP5+-a+ + Cl−/3
265
293
295


357


MnIIIP5+-a+/4


212
207
215
259


MnIIIP5+-a+ + AN/4
200
221



269


MnIIIP5+-2a+/3
243
262
263
266c
268


MnIIIP5+-2a+ + AN/3

276
277


MnIIIP5+-3a+/2


365

371b


MnIIIP5+-3a+ + Cl−


765


MnIIIP5+-4a+


671


MnIIIP5+-a+ + CH3+ + Cl−/4


225


272


MnIIIP5+-2a+ + CH3+ + Cl−/3


280


MnIIIP5+-4a+ + CH3+/2


MnIIIP5+—CH3+ + H+/5




181b


MnIIIP5+—Mn3+ + H+/3

281


MnIIIP5+—Mn3+ + 2H+/4


214

217


MnIIP4+/4
197

227
214

274


MnIIP4+ + AN/4
207
235

224



MnIIP4+ + Cl−/3
274
312
314
297
318
377


MnIIP4+ + 2Cl−/2
428

488
462
494
583


MnIIP4+-a+/3
253
281
283c
276c
287


MnIIP4+-2a+/2




401c


MnIIP4+-2a+ + H+/3





326


MnIIP4+-a+ + CH3+ + Cl−/3


299

304
362


MnIIP4+-4a+ + CH3+


687



MnIIP4+-7a3+



653d


MnIIP3+/3 or MnIP3+/3

295
303
285c
307
365





a~0.5 mM solutions of porphyrins in 1:1 = acetonitrile:H2O, 20 V cone voltage. a is either alkyl or methoxyethyl group.


bBatinic-Haberle et al, , J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., pgs. 2689-2696 (2002).


c30 V cone voltage.


dsignal of very low intensity. The fission of CH2—O—CH3 radical from methoxyethyl group is noted for simplicity as the loss of methoxyethyl (a+) and the gain of CH3+.

## Claims

1. A compound of the formula:



wherein at least one R on each imidazole ring is, independently, —(CH2)mCH2OX or —(CH2CH2O)nX, the other R being, independently, a C2-C12alkyl, (straight chain or branched),
wherein
m is 1-6,
n is 3-50,
X is C2-C12alkyl, (straight chain or branched),

each A is, independently, hydrogen or an electron withdrawing group,
M is metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, iron, copper, cobalt, nickel and zinc, and
Z− is a counterion.

2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein at least one A is halogen, NO2 or CHO.

3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein said compound is of Formula VII.

4. The compound according to claim 3, wherein at least one A is halogen.

5. The compound according to claim 3, wherein at least one A is NO2.

6. The compound according to claim 3, wherein at least one A is CHO.

7. The compound according to claim 1 wherein said compound is of Formula VIII.

8. The compound according to claim 7, wherein at least one A is halogen.

9. The compound according to claim 7, wherein at least one A is NO2.

10. The compound according to claim 7, wherein at least one A is CHO.