The synthesis of chlorophyll derivatives and their photosynthetic activities in purple bacteria reaction centers

chlorophyll derivatives were synthesized and five of them were reported for the first time. In the presence of acetone and an excess of exogenous plan t pheophytins, bacteriopheophytins in the reaction centers from Phodobacter sphaeroides RS601 were replaced by the pheophytins at sites H-A and H-B. W hen incubated at 43.5 degreesC for 60 min, the photochemical activities of the pheophytin reaction centers are 71.4% of the control. The electron tran sfer rate of Bphe(-)/Bphe(phe(-)/phe) and Q ((A)) over bar /Q(A) was decrea sed.