Aminolevulinic acid, also known as ALA, is a topically administered metabolic precursor of protoporphyrin IX. After topical administration, aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) which is a photosensitizer. When the proper wavelength of light activates protoporphyrin IX, singlet oxygen is produced, resulting in a local cytotoxic effect. In 1999, FDA approved this drug for for actinic keratosis.
Synthetic Routes
Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride–5-Route 01
Synthetic Reference
Shrestha-dawadi, Prativa Bade; Lugtenburg, Johan. Preparation of [1,2,3,4,5-13C5]-5-amino-4-oxopentanoic acid (ALA) - design of a synthetic scheme to prepare any 13C- and 15N-isotopomer with high isotopic enrichment. European Journal of Organic Chemistry. Issue 23. Pages 4654-4663. 2003.
Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride–5-Route 02
Synthetic Reference
Dumitrescu, L.; Tica, R.; Grigorescu, C.; Manciulea, I. 5-Aminolevulinic acid - potential drug in the phototherapy of tumours. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov, Series B: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Philology. Volume 9. Pages 121-126. 2002.
Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride–5-Route 03
Synthetic Reference
Zav'yalov, S. I.; Zavozin, A. G. Synthesis of 5-amino-4-oxopentanoic acid hydrochloride. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya. Issue 8. Pages 1796-9. 1987.
Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride–5-Route 04
Synthetic Reference
Dabrowski, Zbigniew; Kwasny, Miroslaw; Kaminski, Jaroslaw; Beldowicz, Maria; Lewicka, Lidia; Obukowicz, Bozena; Kaliszewski, Miron; Pirozynska, Ewa. The synthesis and applications of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) derivatives in photodynamic therapy and photodiagnosis. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica. Volume 60. Issue 3. Pages 219-224. 2003.
Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride–5-Route 05
Synthetic Reference
Pfaltz, Andreas; Anwar, Saeed. Synthesis of α-amino ketones via selective reduction of acyl cyanides. Tetrahedron Letters. Volume 25. Issue 28. Pages 2977-80. 1984.
Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride–5-Route 06
Synthetic Reference
Kang, Min-Seok; Kim, Dong-Myung; Kim, Jeong Sook; Jeong, Jin-Hyun. Synthesis of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and its t-Butyl ester for the fluorescence detection of early cancer. Archives of Pharmacal Research. Volume 28. Issue 10. Pages 1111-1113. 2005.
Gupta, Dinesh; Saha, Basudeb. Carbon nanosphere supported Ru catalyst for the synthesis of renewable herbicide and chemicals. Catalysis Communications. Volume 100. Pages 206-209. 2017.
Aminolevulinic Acid Hydrochloride–5-Route 09
Synthetic Reference
Ha, Hyun-Joon; Lee, Sung-Koo; Ha, Young-Jin; Park, Jun-Weon. Selective bromination of ketones. A convenient synthesis of 5-aminolevulinic acid. Synthetic Communications. Volume 24. Issue 18. Pages 2557-62. 1994.
