Soluble meso and deuteroporphyrin analogs of the malaria pigment hematin anhydride.

Two soluble heme analogs of the insoluble malaria pigment hematin anhydride (HA, or β-hematin), [Fe(III)(protoporphyrin)], with either mesoporphyrin (MHA) or deuteroporphyrin (DHA) are characterized by elemental analysis, SEM, IR spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy, paramagnetic H NMR spectroscopy and solution magnetic susceptibility. While prior single crystal and X-ray powder diffraction results indicate all three have a common propionate linked dimer motif, there is considerable solid state variation in the conformation. This is associated with enhanced solubility of MHA and DHA.