Isolation of Cross-Coupling Products in Model Studies on the Photochemical Modification of Proteins by Tiaprofenic Acid

To gain insight into the chemical nature of drug-induced photoallergy, model studies have been carried out on the photochemical modification of proteins by tiaprofenic acid. Irradiation of decarboxylated tiaprofenic acid (DTPA) in the presence of p-cresol leads to C–C- and C–O-connected p-cresol “dimers”, together with DTPA hydrodimers. The p-cresol–DTPA cross-coupling product was not detected in this reaction. However, a product of this type is formed using a more hindered phenol, such as 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. Similar results are obtained when tiaprofenic acid (TPA) or its methyl ester are used as photosensitizers. The observed formation of “dimers” can be related to protein photo-crosslinking, through the coupling of two tyrosine units. On the other hand, phenol–(D)TPA cross-coupling may be relevant to the understanding of drug–protein photobinding.