meso-Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP)

meso-Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) is a synthetic, water-soluble, tetrapyrrole macrocycle with four carboxyphenyl substituents at the meso positions of the porphyrin ring[5][7]. It is not a natural biological molecule, receptor, enzyme, or target but has extensive utility as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy research, as a fluorescent probe, and as a building block for the preparation of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and supramolecular assemblies[1][6]. It can coordinate metal ions in the central core, mimicking natural heme or chlorophyll chemistry in model studies and material science applications. There is no evidence that this compound acts as a therapeutic target (such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter) in biological systems. The proper IUPAC canonical name refers to substitution at the *para* (4-) phenyl position, and the term "meso-tetrakis-orthocarboxyphenyl-porphyrin" likely represents a naming error (should be *para*, not *ortho*) and is not standard in the literature[5].

Other names

TCPPmeso-Tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrinmeso-Tetrakis(para-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrinmeso-Tetrakis-orthocarboxyphenyl-porphyrin (uncommon, probably incorrect by IUPAC styling)Tetra(p-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(p-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin

Photosensitizer (mediates generation of singlet oxygen upon light excitation; used in photodynamic therapy research)