Abstract:
A tetrapyrollic photosensitizer compound having at least one pendant —CH 2 CH 2 CON(CH 2 CON(CH 2 COOH) 2 ) 2  or —N(CH 2 COOH) 2  group or esters thereof said tetrapyrollic compound being a chlorin, bacteriochlorin, porphyrin, pyropheophorbide, purpurinimide, or bacteriopurpurinimide. Desirably the compound has the formula: 
     
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, wherein R 1 —R 8  and R 10  are various substituents and R 9  is substituted or unsubstituted —CH 2 CH 2 CON(CH 2 CON(CH 2 COOH) 2 ) 2 ; or —N(CH 2 COOH) 2 . The invention also includes a method of treatment by photodynamic therapy by treatment with light after injecting the compound and a method of imaging by fluorescence after injection of the compound.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/378,751 to Pandey et al. filed Feb. 19, 2009 for WATER SOLUBLE TETRAPYROLLIC PHOTOSENSITIZERS FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/452,511 to Pandey et al. filed Jun. 14, 2006 for WATER SOLUBLE TETRAPYROLLIC PHOTOSENSITIZERS FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/607,922 to Pandey et al. filed Jun. 27, 2003 entitled FLUORINATED PHOTOSENSITIZERS RELATED TO CHLORINS AND BACTERIOCHLORINS FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY which in turn claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/392,473 to Pandey et al. filed Jun. 27, 2002 entitled FLUORINATED PHOTOSENSITIZERS RELATED TO CHLORINS AND BACTERIOCHLORINS FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY. 
         [0002]    The above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For a number of years, attempts have been underway in various laboratories to replace Photofrin® with new porphyrin-based photosensitizers (PS). To date, most PS are amphiphilic in nature in that they contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substituents. Due to their 7-conjugated systems, a phenomenon known as aggregation has become a concern such that it can: “decrease fluorescence quantum yields, shorten a photosensitizer&#39;s triplet excited state lifetime or reduce its photosensitizing efficiency”. Most of these compounds, therefore, are visibly aggregated in solution, so the challenge remains to be the synthesis of effective water-soluble photosensitizers that accumulate in the tumor, yet clear at a suitable time as to limit toxicity. Several researchers have either incorporated sugar residues on the periphery or ionic groups such as pyridinium, sulfonato or carboxylate groups as a means to enhance photosensitizers&#39; aqueous solubility. The 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphyrin (TPPS 4 ) is a known tetrasodium salt that although soluble in water still absorbs weakly at ˜630 nm. Core modifications have been made to TPPS 4  in which chalcogen atoms such as sulfur, selenium and tellurium have aided in the water solubility of the PS, as well as, increasing the wavelength maximum to ˜695 nm. Unfortunately, these compounds were found to be toxic Therefore, the aim of the present invention was to synthesize effective and non-toxic water-soluble long wavelength absorbing photosensitizers with high singlet oxygen ability, singlet oxygen being a key cytotoxic agent for PDT. Tetrapyrollic compounds, especially porphyrin related compounds, have played a key role in developing a variety of photosensitizers. Inventors herein have recently shown that porphyrin-based compounds can also be used (i) as PET and SPECT imaging agents and (ii) as vehicles to deliver the required contrast agents (MRI, Fluorescence etc.) to image tumors. These approaches have been extremely useful in developing multimodality agents. However, one major drawback with most of these compounds is their limited solubility in water. Therefore, most of the formulations require a biocompatible surfactant, e.g. such as those commonly sold under the trademarks TWEEN-80 or CREMOPHORE. At low concentrations, such formulations are approved by FDA for clinical use, but to avoid a number of disadvantages with such formulations, it would be ‘ideal’ to design water soluble compounds for tumor imaging and therapy. 
         [0004]    An approach for increasing the water solubility is to introduce hydrophilic substituents (e.g., —COOH, PEG, amino acids, charged species etc.) in the desired molecules. Unfortunately such incorporation can limit biological efficacy. 
         [0005]    The following references are incorporated by reference as background art.
   1. R. K. Pandey, G. Zheng The Porphyrin Handbook (Eds: Kadish, Rodgers and Smith), vol. 6, Academic Press, Boston, 2000.   2. Suresh K. Pandey, Amy L. Gryshuk, Munawwar Sajjad, Xiang Zheng, Yihui Chen, Mohei M. Abouzeid, Janet Morgan, Ivan Charamisinau, Hani A. Nabi, Allan Oseroff and Ravindra K. Pandey, Multiomodality Agents for Tumor Imaging (PET, Fluorescence) and Photodynamic Therapy: A Possible See and Treat Approach.  J. Med. Chem.  2005, 48, 6286-6295.   3. Ravindra K. Pandey et al., Chlorophyll-a Analogs Conjugated with Aminophenyl-DTPA as Potential Bifunctional Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy.  Bioconjugate Chem.  2005, 16, 32-42.   4. Ravindra K. Pandey, A. B. Sumlin, W. R. Potter, D. A. Bellnier, B. W. Henderson, S. Constantine, M. Aoudia, M. R. Rodgers, K. M. Smith and T. J. Dougherty, Structure and Photodynamic Efficacy Among Alkyl Ether Analogues of Chlorophyll-a Derivatives.  Photochem. Photobiol.  1996, 63, 194-205.   5. Gang Zheng, Susan Camacho, William Potter, David A. Bellnier, B. W. Henderson, Thomas J. Dougherty and Ravindra K. Pandey, Synthesis, tumor uptake and in vivo photosensitizing efficacy of a homologous series of the 3-(1′-alkoxy)ethyl-purpurin-18-N-alkylimides,  J. Med. Chem.,  2001, 44, 1540-1559.   6. Yihui Chen, Andrew Graham, William Potter, Janet Morgan, Lurine Vaughan, David A. Bellnier, Barbara W. Henderson, Allan Oseroff, Thomas J. Dougherty and Ravindra K. Pandey,  J. Med. Chem . ( Rapid Communication ), 2002, 45, 255-258.   
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  shows a graph of In vivo photosensitizing efficacy of PS  15  and the corresponding water-soluble analog PS  16  (24 h p.i.) BALB-C mice were implanted with Colo-26 tumors. The tumors were exposed with laser light (135 J/cm 2 , 75 mW/cm 2  for 30 min) 24 h post injection. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  shows a schematic preparation of compound  16  from compound  15 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a graph of In vivo photosensitizing efficacy of compounds  9 ,  12  and  14 . BALB-C mice were implanted with Colo-26 tumors. The tumors were exposed with laser light (135 J/cm 2 , 75 mW/cm 2  for 30 min) 24 h post injection. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  shows a BALB/c Colon-26 background fluorescence image Prior to PS injection. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a graph showing fluorescence emissions with respect to  FIG. 3A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  shows an In vivo fluorescence image of PS  16  (24 h p.i.). of an intact tumor; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3D  is a graph showing fluorescence emissions with respect to  FIG. 3C . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3E  shows an In vivo fluorescence image of PS  16  (24 h p.i.) skin flap with tumor removed so that PS fluorescence could be imaged on underside. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3F  is a graph showing fluorescence emissions with respect to  FIG. 3E . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  shows an In vivo fluorescence image of PS  16  in various organs (24 h p.i.). A: Colon-26 tumor; B: skin over tumor; C: large intestine; D: liver; E: stomach. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a graph showing fluorescence emissions with respect to  FIG. 4A   
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a graph showing In vivo quantitation of PS  16  fluorescence normalized to controls (ex: 417 nm; em: ˜710 nm). 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    In accordance with the present invention, a series of water soluble purpurinimides were prepared and some of these compounds were found to be quite effective both for PDT efficacy and tumor imaging (fluorescence). 
         [0025]    The photosensitizers are tetrapyrollic photosensitizers having at least one pendant —CH 2 CH 2 CON(CH 2 CON(CH 2 COOH) 2 ) 2  or —N(CH 2 COOH) 2  group or esters thereof. The substituted tetrapyrollic compound is usually a chlorin, bacteriochlorin, porphyrin, pyropheophorbide, purpurinimide, or bacteriopurpurinimide. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    In a preferred embodiment the compound of the invention has the formula: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof. 
         [0027]    R 1  and R 2  are each independently substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, —C(O)R a  or —COOR n  or —CH(CH 3 )(OR) or —CH(CH 3 )(O(CH 2 ) n XR) where R a  is hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl, or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl where R 2  may be CH═CH 2 , CH(OR 20 )CH 3 , C(O)Me, C(═NR 2i )CH 3  or CH(NHR 21 )CH 3 . 
         [0028]    X is an aryl or heteroaryl group. 
         [0029]    n is an integer of 0 to 6. 
         [0030]    R and R′ are independently H or lower alkyl of 1 through 8 carbon atoms. 
         [0031]    R 20  is methyl, butyl, heptyl, docecyl or 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-benzyl. 
         [0032]    R 21  is 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl. 
         [0033]    R 1a  and R 2a  are each independently hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or together form a covalent bond. 
         [0034]    R 3  and R 4  are each independently hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl. 
         [0035]    R 3a  and R 4a  are each independently hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or together form a covalent bond. 
         [0036]    R 5  is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl. 
         [0037]    R 6  and R 6a  are each independently hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or together form ═O. 
         [0038]    R 7  is a covalent bond, alkylene, azaalkyl, or azaaraalkyl or ═NR 20  where R 20  is hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1 through 8 carbon atoms or —CH 2 -3,5-bis(tri-fluoromethyl)benzyl or —CH 2 X—R 1  or —YR 1  where Y is an aryl or heteroaryl group. 
         [0039]    R 8  and R 8a  are each independently hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or together form ═O. 
         [0040]    R 9  is —CH 2 CH 2 CON(CH 2 CON(CH 2 COOA) 2 ) 2  or —N(CH 2 COOH) 2 ; where A is —OH or -lower alkyl. 
         [0041]    R 10  is hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl. 
         [0042]    Each of R 1 -R 10 , when substituted, is substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from Q, where Q is alkyl, haloalkyl, halo, pseudohalo, or —COOR b  where R b  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, araalkyl, or OR c  where R c  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl or —CONR d R e  where R d  and R e  are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, or —NR f R g , where R f  and R g  are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, or ═NR h  where R h  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, or is an amino acid residue; 
         [0043]    each Q is independently unsubstituted or is substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from Q 1 , where Q 1  is alkyl, haloalkyl, halo, pseudohalo, or —COOR b  where R b  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, araalkyl, or OR c  where R c  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl or CONR d R e  where R d  and R e  are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, or NR f R g  where R f  and R g  are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, or ═NR h  where R h  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl, or is an amino acid residue. 
         [0044]    Synthetic details for the preparation of examples of water soluble photosensitizers of the invention are depicted in Schemes 1-4 as follow: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
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         [0045]    All the intermediates and the final products were characterized by NMR and mass spectrometry analyses. The purity was ascertained by analytical TLC. The starting photosensitizers (e.g. HPPH, fluorinated purpurinimide 7 and the N-butyl-purpurinimide 10 were synthesized by following published methodologies that were developed in our laboratory) The Synthetic details are as follows: 
       Compound No.  2   
       [0046]    Iminodiacetic acid (5.0 gm, 0.03756 mole) was taken in a 500 ml RBF, water (150 ml) and THF (50 ml) were added to it. Resultant mixture was cooled to 0° C. using an ice bath. K 2 CO 3  (25.9 gm, 0.187 mole) was added to it in portions keeping temperature of reaction mixture below 10° C. After 10 min of stirring at the same temperature Cbz-Cl (7.9 ml, 0.056 mole) was added to it drop wise. Resultant mixture was stirred for 6 hr at room temperature, concentrated partially to remove THF. Reaction mixture was washed with ether to remove excess of Cbz-Cl, aq layer was separated, acidified with dil HCl and extracted with EtOAc (100 ml×3). Organic layers were separated, combined and washed with H 2 O (100 ml), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give 2 as viscous oil in quantitative yield. 
         [0047]    Yield: 9.6 gm (95.7%). 
         [0048]      1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ 7.36-7.30 (m, 5H, Ph), 5.16 (s, 2H, Ph*CH 2 O), 4.15 (s, 2H, CH2), 4.12 (s, 2H, CH 2 ). EIMS: 267(m). 
       Compound No.  3   
       [0049]    Di-acid 2 (0.5 gm, 1.88 mmol), Di-tert-butyl iminodiacetate (0.92 gm, 3.77 mmol), EDCI (1.0 gm, 5.6 mmol) and DMAP (0.36 gm, 5.6 mmol) were dissolved in dry DCM (30 ml). Resultant mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hr under N 2  atm, diluted with DCM (100 ml) and washed with brine (50 ml). Organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Crude was purified on silica gel column using EtOAc/hexane (20-40%) as eluent to give product  3 . Yield: 1.0 gm (75%). 
         [0050]      1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ 7.34-7.28 (m, 5H, Ph), 5.12 (s, 2H, PhCH 2 O), 4.28 (d, 1H, J=6.4 Hz), 4.24 (d, 1H, J=6.8 Hz), 4.18-4.14 (m, 1H), 4.05 (m, 4H), 3.91 (m, 1H), 3.74 (d, 1H, J=8.0 Hz), 3.67 (d, 1H, J=10.8 Hz), 1.47 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ), 1.45 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ), 1.44 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ), 1.40 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ). SIMS: 744(m+Na + ). 
       Compound No.  4   
       [0051]    Compound  3  (0.9 gm, 1.24 mmol), Pd/C (10%, 1.0 gm), MeOH (60 ml) were stirred together under H 2  atm for 2 hr. Reaction mixture was filtered over celite, filtrate was concentrated and chromatographed over silica get using MeOH/DCM (1-3%) as eluent. Yield: 0.6 gm (82.5%). 
         [0052]      1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ 4.06 (s, 4H, CH 2 ), 4.01 (s, 4H, CH 2 ), 3.46 (s, 4H, CH 2 ), 1.46 (s, 36H, CO 2 Bu t ). SIMS: 587(m + ). 
       Compound No.  5   
       [0053]    HPPH (100.0 mg, 0.157 mmol), amine 4 (184.5 mg, 0.314 mmol), EDCI (90.4 mg, 0.471 mmol) and DMAP (57.5 mg, 0.471 mmol) were dissolved in dry DCM (30 ml). Resultant mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hr under N 2  atm, diluted with DCM (100 ml) and washed with brine (50 ml). Organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Crude was purified on silica gel column using MeOH/DCM (1-3%) as eluent to give product  5 . Yield: 120.0 mg (63.35%). UV-vis (λmax cm −1 , dichloromethane): 409, 505, 535, 606 &amp; 661. 
         [0054]      1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ 9.74 (s, 1H, meso-H), 9.51 (s, 1H, meso-H), 8.52 (s, 1H, meso-H), 5.91 (m, 1H, CH 3 *CHOhexyl), 5.35 (d, 1H, 15 1 *CH, J=20.0 Hz), 5.13 (d, 1H, 15 1 *CH, J=20.0 Hz), 4.52-4.49 (m, 2H, H-17 &amp; H-18), 4.29-4.27 (m, 4H), 4.11 (m, 2H), 4.09-4.04 (m, 4H), 3.88-3.85 (m, 2H, CH 2 ), 3.74-3.72 (m, 2H, O*CH 2  hexyl), 3.67 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 3.66-3.59 (m, 2H, 8 1 -CH 2 ), 3.36 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 3.26 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 2.78-2.66 (m, 2H, 17 2 -CH 2 ), 2.53-2.49 (m, 1H, 17 1 -CH), 2.15 (m, 1H, 17 1 -CH), 2.11 (d, 3H, CH 2 *CH 3  CHOhexyl, J=6.8 Hz), 1.79 (d, 3H, 18-CH 3 , J=7.6 Hz), 1.74 (t, 3H, 8-CH 2 *CH 3 , J=7.6 Hz) 1.63 (m, 4H, CH 2 -hexyl), 1.47-1.43 (four singlets each for CO 2 Bu t , 36H), 1.20 (m, 4H, CH 2 -hexyl), 0.77 (t, 3H, CH 3 -hexyl, J=6.4 Hz), 0.37 (brs, 1H, NH), −1.82 (brs, 1H, NH). EIMS: 1206 (m + ). 
       Compound No.  6   
       [0055]    Compound  5  (70.0 mg) was stirred in 5 ml of 70% TFA/DCM for 3 hr at room temperature. The reaction mixture was concentrated and dried under high vacuum to give 6 in quantitative yield. 
         [0056]    Yield: 50.0 mg (87.7%). UV-vis (λmax cm −1 , THF): 408, 505, 538, 605 &amp; 660. SIMS: 983 (m + +1). 
       Compound No.  8   
       [0057]    Acid 7 (100.0 mg, 0.115 mmol), amine 4 (136.0 mg, 0.231 mmol), EDCI (44.4 mg, 0.231 mmol) and DMAP (28.27 mg, 0.231 mmol) were dissolved in dry DCM (30 ml). Resultant mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hr under N 2  atm, diluted with DCM (100 ml) and washed with brine (50 ml). Organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Crude was purified on silica gel column using MeOH/DCM (1-3%) as eluent to give product  8 . Yield: 80.0 mg (48%). UV-vis (λmax cm −1 , dichloromethane): 365, 414, 548 &amp; 701.  1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ 9.74 (s, 1H, meso-H), 9.60 (s, 1H, meso-H), 8.51 (s, 1H, meso-H), 8.20 (s, 2H, bis-CF 3 C 6 H 3 ), 7.79 (s, 1H, bis-CF 3 C 6 H 3 ), 5.79 (s, 2H, benzylic CH 2 ), 5.75 (m, 1H, CH 3 *CHObutyl), 5.19-5.16 (m, 1H, H-17), 4.60-4.49 (m, 2H, CH 2 ), 4.40-4.31 (m, 2H, CH 2 ), 4.18-3.96 (m, 8H, 4-CH 2 ), 3.62 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 3.61-3.60 (m, 4H, 2CH 2 ), 3.26 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 3.16 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 2.94-2.87 (m, 1H, 17 2 -CH), 2.76-2.69 (m, 1H, 17 2 -CH), 2.40-2.34 (m, 1H, 17 1 -CH), 2.05 (d, 3H, CH 3 CHObutyl, J=10.2 Hz), 1.77-1.64 (m, 11H, 17 1 -CH, 18-CH 3 , 2CH 2 butyl, 8-CH 2 *CH 3 ), 1.48 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ), 1.46 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ), 1.39 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ), 1.38 (s, 9H, CO 2 Bu t ), 0.89-0.85 (spitted t, 3H, CH 3 -butyl), 0.21 (brs, 1H, NH), 0.07 (brs, 1H, NH). SIMS: 1403 (m 1 ). 
       Compound No.  9   
       [0058]    Compound  8  (60.0 mg) was stirred in 5 ml of 70% TFA/DCM for 3 hr at room temperature. Reaction mixture was concentrated and dried under high vacuum to give 9 in quantitative yield. 
         [0059]    Yield: 40.0 mg (77.36%). UV-vis (λmax cm −1 , THF): 363, 414, 546 &amp; 699. SIMS: 211 (m + +1). 
       Compound No.  11   
       [0060]    Acid 10 (50.0 mg, 0.072 mmol), amine 4 (84.7 mg, 0.144 mmol), EDCI (34.5 mg, 0.18 mmol) and DMAP (22.0 mg, 0.18 mmol) were dissolved in dry DCM (30 ml). Resultant mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hr under N 2  atm, diluted with DCM (100 ml) and washed with brine (50 ml). Organic layer was separated, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. Crude was purified on silica gel column using MeOH/DCM (1-2%) as eluent to give product  11 . 
         [0061]    Yield: 65.0 mg (71.42%). UV-vis (λmax cm 1 , dichloromethane): 363, 415, 508, 547 &amp; 701. 
         [0062]      1 HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ 9.72 (s, 1H, meso-H), 9.63 (s, 1H, meso-H), 8.52 (s, 1H, meso-H), 5.79 (m, 1H, CH 3 *CHObutyl), 5.22 (m, 1H, H-17), 4.66 (m, 2H, CH 2 ), 4.45 (t, 2H, OCH 2 butyl, J=7.6 Hz), 4.33 (m, 1H, H-18), 4.18-4.00 (m, 4H, 2CH 2 ), 3.97-3.95 (m, 4H, 2CH 2 ), 3.84 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 3.68-3.61 (m, 4H, 8*CH 2 CH 3 , CH 2 ), 3.30 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 3.18 (s, 3H, ring-CH 3 ), 3.00-2.90 (m, 1H, 17 2 -CH), 2.74-2.69 (m, 1H, 17 2 -CH), 2.45-2.39 (m, 1H, 17 1 -CH), 2.06 (d, 3H, CH 3 CHObutyl, J=6.8 Hz), 2.01-1.96 (m, 2H, NCH 2 -butyl), 1.70 (m, 1H, 17 1 -CH), 1.68-1.61 (m, 10H, 18-CH 3 , 2CH 2 butyl, 8-CH 2 *CH), 1.51, 1.49, 1.37 &amp; 1.36 (each singlet for 36H, CO 2 Bu t ), 1.10 (t, 3H, CH 3 -Obutyl, J=7.6 Hz), 0.87 (t, 3H, CH 3 -Nbutyl, J=7.4 Hz), −0.02 (brs, 1H, NH), −0.12 (brs, 1H, NH). SIMS: 1263 (m + ). 
       Compound No.  12   
       [0063]    Compound  11  (60.0 mg) was stirred in 5 ml of 70% TFA/DCM for 3 hr at room temperature. Reaction mixture was concentrated and dried under high vacuum to give 12 in quantitative yield. 
         [0064]    Yield: 42.0 mg (85.19%). UV-vis (λmax cm −1 , dichloromethane): 363, 415, 508, 547 &amp; 701. EIMS: 1039 (m + ). 
       In Vivo Photosensitizing Efficacy 
       [0065]    The experiments were performed in female BALB/c mice (6-8 weeks of age) purchased from Clarence Reeder (National Cancer Institute Fredrick Cancer Research Facility, Fredrick, Md.). The mice were injected s.c. in the axilla with 10 6  Colo-26 cells in 50 μL complete RPMI-1640 and were used for experimentation when the tumors reached 5-6 mm All experiments were performed under the approved protocols of the RPCI Animal Care and Use Committee and followed DLAR regulations. 
         [0066]    (a) Comparative Photosensitizing Efficacy of 15 vs its water soluble analog 16: 
         [0000]    BALB/c mice inoculated with Colon-26 tumors were injected with 0.7 μmoles/kg of either PS  15  or  16  and at ˜24 h p.i., the mice were treated with PDT for a total fluence of 135 J/cm 2  at 75 mW/cm 2  (30 minute treatment). Preliminary studies had shown that PS  15  was only 30% effective using the 135 J/cm 2  at 75 mW/cm 2  (30 minute) PDT regimen. However, when its water-soluble analog was tested, the PDT response enhanced to 70% mice tumor-free by day 90. 
         [0067]    Three explanations for this may be that (1) the slight charge from the carboxylate groups may be contributing to differing localization sites of PS  16  in comparison to 15 (as mentioned above), (2) the PDT-induced mechanism of action may differ in comparison to 16 or (3) the increased PS uptake in the tumor compared to the skin of 16 could be contributing to the enhanced PDT response. The main purpose of these experiments was to determine if the water-soluble PS could be utilized as both a PDT agent and diagnostic imaging tool. The initial in vivo experiments displayed the advantage of the water-soluble PS over its parent compound, 15. 
         [0068]    Comparative Photosensitizing Efficacy Water-soluble Photosensitizers 9 and 12: 
         [0069]    The in vivo photosensitizing efficacy of water-soluble photosensitizers 9 and 12 was determined in BALB-C mice bearing Colo-26 tumors at similar treatment conditions. At 24 h postinjction of the photosensitizer (i.v., 0.5 μmol/Kg), the tumors were exposed to laser light (at the photosensitizer&#39;s longest wavelength absorption (135 J/cm 2 , 75 mW/cm 2  for 30 min) and the tumor regrowth was measured daily. The results are summarised in  FIG. 2 . As can be seen among the three candidates, compared to  14 , compounds  9  and  12  were found to be more effective. 
         [0070]    In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging with the Water-Soluble Analog 16. 
         [0071]    Measurement of PS accumulation in the tumor and skin via fluorescence measurements using a non-invasive optical imaging camera system was performed. When tumors reached 4-5 mm in diameter, the BALB/c mice were imaged prior to PS injection (using body weight of Ketamine Xylazine or 80 mg/kg of Pentobarbital Sodium anesthesia) to make certain that no endogenous chromophores were excited at the particular wavelengths utilized (425/50 nm or 540/40 nm excitation filters). Background fluorescence measurements had been a concern for previous researchers because it was found that the current diet of the mice contained chlorophyll (λ max  fluorescence=676 nm). When evaluating a photosensitizer such as HPPH, the PS emission peak at ˜668 nm overlapped with that of chlorophyll. Therefore, the fluorescence images obtained were not particularly specific for only PS fluorescence. For instance, when the background mice were imaged (No PS) using an excitation wavelength of 425/50 nm the chlorophyll from the diet was present in both the hair (yellow) and BALB/c skin (red) exhibiting an emission peak at ˜676 nm. For the experiments with PS  15  and  16 , there was no concern that the emission peak of chlorophyll would overlap with that of the PS (emission at ˜710 nm). See  FIGS. 3A-3F   
         [0072]    For non-invasive in vivo imaging of PS fluorescence, the Nuance™ Imaging Camera was beneficial in that once anesthetized the whole body of the mouse could be placed into the imaging LT-9CABINET, which provided the proper light insulation required for measurement and the ILLUMATOOL low power light source necessary for keeping the amount of light delivered to each mouse constant (3 mice per time point). This imaging technology was quite beneficial due to the fact that it was minimally invasive, so that there was no need to sacrifice the animal in order to obtain information about where the PS was localized. Previous studies have involved invasive procedures in which a mouse was sacrificed, the tumor or skin was excised and histological staining was performed on the paraffin blocks. Below are fluorescence images of PS  16  excited using the 425/50 nm filter and collected via the non-invasive CCD Nuance Imaging Camera (Princeton Instruments Inc.). This system was capable of taking qualitative hyperspectral images in the specific range of 650-720 nm focused on 710 nm. 
         [0073]    From  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that PS  16  showed a significant selectivity for tumors (peak fluorescence at ˜710 nm), but when the skin flap was performed there appeared to be a noticeable amount of PS remaining in the underside of the skin after tumor removal. It is important to remember that these are qualitative images of PS accumulation in the tumor and skin. As a means to determine the exact uptake of the PS in the tumor versus the skin and other organs, a skin-flap excision, as well as, an ex vivo biodistribution study were performed. Once removed, the organs (tumor, skin, heart, spleen, muscle, kidney, stomach, intestine, lung and liver) were placed on a plexiglass plate and their fluorescence was collected (425/50 nm excitation). The fluorescence image displayed fluorescence peaks at ˜675 (yellow spectrum characteristic of chlorophyll-a from diet) and ˜710 nm (red spectrum characteristic of PS  16 ) with visible fluorescence in the tumor, skin, large intestine, liver and stomach. The organs were homogenized, dissolved in Solvable and read on the Fluoromax II Fluorimeter at 417 nm. After reading the fluorescence of all the organ samples, it was determined that the tumor and liver retained PS  16  (peak emission ˜710 nm), while the skin, stomach and intestine retained material characteristic of chlorophyll-a (peak emission ˜676 nm). The average fluorescence per mg/mL of protein was normalized to background mice (no PS) and plotted for each organ (avg. of 3 samples per organ). 
         [0074]    This invention describes the successful synthesis of a new long wavelength water-soluble PS. The in vitro and in vivo PDT photosensitizing experiments indicated that PS  16  was superior to its parent compound, 15 
         [0075]    At its therapeutic PDT dose of 0.7 μmoles/kg (70% mice were tumor-free by day 60, 7/10 mice), PS  16  displayed selective tumor uptake at 24 h p.i. as visualized by Nuance™ imaging and confirmed by the fluorescence extraction experiments. This is the first report of a water-soluble fluorinated purpurinimide being utilized as a dual PDT-imaging agent.