Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Chlorin
In organic chemistry, a chlorin is a large heterocyclic aromatic ring consisting, at the core, of 3 pyrroles and one reduced pyrrole coupled through 4 methine linkages. Unlike a porphyrin, a chlorin is therefore largely aromatic but not aromatic through the entire circumference of the ring.
Magnesium-containing chlorins are called chlorophylls, and are the central photosensitive pigment in chloroplasts. A related compound, with 2 reduced pyrroles, is called a bacteriochlorin .
Because of their photosensitivity, chlorins are in active use as photosensitizing agents in experimental laser cancer therapies.
See also: corrin
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details