PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS 



21 



When a fresh preparation of chlorophyll is saponified 

 with strong methanolic alkali an immediate change of colour 

 occurs, the green changing to a yellowish brown (if a 



12 3 4 



HC CH HC ■ :CH 



HC» 



PORPHIN 



CH3-C- 



C-CH=CH2 CH3C 



CH3-C 



P CH 



C-CH=CH2 



^=C-CH3 



CH2COOH 



PROTOHAEMIN 



FIG. 3.2. Structural formulae of porphin and protohaemin. 



