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For the first time, α-emitter radioisotope (213)Bi has been incorporated into porphyrin chelates, with rates matching with the short period of the radionuclide. An in situ transmetalation mechanism involving the daughter isotope (209)Pb is expected to boost the (213)Bi radiolabeling process., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

In order to investigate the possible coordination of both bismuth(III) and lead(II) by porphyrins for an application in alpha-radioimmunotherapy, several series of functionalized bismuth porphyrins have been synthesized and their stabilities in acidic medium were compared. Where unfunctionalized porphyrins are not suitable for such a purpose, strapped hanging carboxylate porphyrins are stable and allow a rapid coordination of both bismuth and lead. This property could lead to the preparation of an in-situ generator of alpha particles by a pre-complexation of (212)lead, the radioactive parent of (212)bismuth, in the ligand.

The synthesis of two picket bismuth(III) porphyrins is reported, and their crystal structures are compared. The influence of the nature of the pickets, as well as their number, is discussed in terms of stability, kinetics of metalation, structure, and distortion of the porphyrin. Unexpectedly, the results indicate that the coordination sphere of bismuth is not affected by different types of distortion nor is the stability of the complex. For both types of complexes, the X-ray crystallography revealed that a single arm is actually in direct interaction with the bismuth cation, thereby allowing further functionalization on the porphyrin core as the linkage with immunoglobulins or anti-rabbit antibodies (both noted IgG), which have been used in diagnostic or therapeutic applications.