Study of the photolysis of 6-carboxypterin in acid and alkaline aqueous solutions

6-Carboxypterin was photolyzed at 350 mm in aqueous acid and alkaline solutions at room temperature. The photochemical reaction was followed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC. Changes in the absorption spectrum of the irradiated solution, TLC and HPLC, show the formation of pterin as one of the photoproducts, The quantum yields of 6-carboxypterin disappearance and of pterin formation were shown to be pH and oxygen dependent. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.