Syntheses of psoralen analogues and evaluation of their inhibition of epidermal growth factor binding.

An exchange hydrogenation reaction on trioxsalen yields two isomeric dihydro analogues for which a combined HPLC-supercritical fluid chromatography method supplies purified materials. These reduced compounds and a related benzodipyranone are biologically active and inhibit the binding of epidermal growth factor on HeLa cells to an even greater extent than trioxsalen. This observation suggests a non-DNA target may play a role in the overall effects of psoralens on cells.