A glycoside derived from hypocrellin B was designed and synthesized us
ing an improved Konigs-Knorr reaction. The water-solubility and red ab
sorption of the resulting product was enhanced significantly over hypo
crellin B. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements indicated that t
his glycoside remained photodynamically active in terms of Type I and
Type II mechanisms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
.