Based on 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-hydroxyphenyl) porphyrin (2), a series of water insoluble and water-soluble metalloporphyrins has been synthesized. An LKB-227 thermal activity monitor was used to monitor the cell metabolic activity in vitro to produce thermogenesis curves. The growth rate constants k, maximum heat production rates p_(max) and peak time of growth thermogenic curves t of E. coli in different metalloporphyrins at different concentrations were deduced from these thermogenesis curves. Metalloporphyrins 4a ～ 4f and 7a ～ 7f show inhibiting action on the growth metabolism of E. coli with water- soluble metalloporphyrins 7a ～ 7f being the better ones.

Key words: PORPHYRIN, BENZENE P, ESCHERICHIA COLI, DEPRESSING