Preparation of metal mesoporphyrin compounds

1. A process of preparing mesoporphyrin IX formate comprising the steps of:

(a) subjecting a mixture of hemin and a hydrogenation catalyst in formic acid to hydrogen at a temperature of 85-95° C. and

(b) followed by subsequently subjecting said mixture to hydrogen at a temperature of from 45-50° C., to produce mesoporphyrin IX formate, having the following formula:

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen of step (a) is at a pressure of about 30-60 psi.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen of step (b) is at a pressure of 30-60 psi.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (a) endures for about 1-3 hours.

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein step (a) endures for about 1 hour.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen of step (a) is at a temperature of about 90° C.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (b) endures for about 3-6 hours.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein said hydrogenation catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, nickel, and palladium on carbon.

9. The process of claim 1 , further comprising minimizing the exposure of the reaction to visible or ultraviolet light.

10. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

(c) recovering the mesoporphyrin IX formate.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein said recovering is by the addition of ethers.

12. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

(c) dissolving the formate in formic acid and using a metal scavenger to purify the formate by removing residual metal catalysts.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein said metal scavenger is selected from the group consisting of: Si-thiol, Si-thiourea, Si-triamine, and Si-triaminetetraacetatic acid.

14. The process of claim 11 , wherein the ether is selected from the group consisting of: methyl tert-butyl ether, diethyl ether, and di-isopropyl ether.