β-Keto ester aminolysis of pheophorbide a methyl ester: a facile route for asymmetric chlorin ring substitution

A chemoselective aminolysis of the β-keto ester of pheophorbide a methyl ester is demonstrated opening a facile access to an asymmetric amide functionalization of a chlorin ring using a range of aromatic and aliphatic, primary and secondary amine nucleophiles. Aminolysis of pheophorbide a methyl ester with trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane is shown to give a symmetric open face chlorin dimer.