Metal phthalocyanine as photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT)——Preparation,characterization and anticancer activities of an amphiphilic phthalocyanine ZnPcS_2P_2

A series of sulfonated (S) phthalimidomethyl (P) zinc phthalocyanines (Pc) was synthesized in a reaction, in which both kinds of substituents were introduced to ZnPc simultaneously. The products were separated by HPLC. The five different fractions obtained were further purified by a membrane separation method, and then characterized by UV/Vis, IR, element analysis and the abilities to generate singlet oxygen upon irradiation by light as well as a preliminary determination of in vitro antitumor activities. The results show that one of the five separating parts with formula of ZnPcS2P2 exhibited rather good PDT activity. The compound was further characterized by NMR, MS and thermal analysis. Studies on in vivo antitumor activities of ZnPcS2P2 as photosensi-tizer show that its inhibitory rate was up to 89.8% and 90.8% for S180 and U14 solid tumors transplanted in mice respectively when the dosage of drug was 2 mg/kg and the dosage of laser light with 670 nm wavelength was 72 J/cm2. Several structural factor     

Simultaneous two-photon excitation of photofrin in relation to photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), the use of light-activated drugs (photosensitizers), is an emerging treatment modality for tumors as well as various nononcologic conditions. Single-photon (1-gamma) PDT is limited by low specificity of the photosensitizer, leading to damage to healthy tissue adjacent to the diseased target tissue. One solution is to use simultaneous two-photon (2-gamma) excitation with ultrafast pulses of near-IR light. Due to the nonlinear interaction mechanism, 2-gamma excitation with a focused beam is localized in three dimensions, allowing treatment volumes on the order of femtoliters. We propose that this will be valuable in PDT of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which causes blindness due to abnormal choroidal neovasculature and which is currently treated by 1-gamma PDT. Here, Photofrin has been used as the photosensitizer to demonstrate proof-of-principle of 2-gamma killing of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. The 2-gamma absorption properties of Photofrin were investigated in the 750-900 nm excitation wavelength range. It was shown that 2-gamma excitation dominates over 1-gamma excitation above 800 nm. The 2-gamma absorption spectrum of Photofrin in the 800-900 nm excitation wavelength range was measured. The 2-gamma cross section decreased from about 10 GM (1 GM = 10(-50) cm4 s/photon) at 800 nm to 5 GM at 900 nm. Adherent YPEN-1 endothelial cells were then incubated with Photofrin for 24 h and then treated by PDT at 850 nm where the 1-gamma contribution was negligible. Cell death was monitored with the use of 2-gamma scanning laser microscopy. The light doses required for killing were high (6300 J cm(-2) for approximately 50% killing), but 2-gamma cytotoxicity was unequivocally demonstrated. Although Photofrin is, per se, not a good choice for 2-gamma PDT due to its low 2-gamma cross section, this work provides baseline data to guide the development of novel photosensitizers with much higher 2-gamma cross sections (>100 GM), which will be required for 2-gamma PDT of AMD (and other conditions) to be clinically practical.     

Photodynamic activity of substituted zinc trisulfophthalocyanines: role of plasma membrane damage

We recently reported that variations in cellular phototoxicity among a series of alkynyl-substituted zinc trisulfophthalocyanines (ZnPcS3Cn) correlates with their hydrophobicity, with the most amphiphilic derivatives showing the highest cell uptake and phototoxicity. In this study we address the role of the plasma membrane in the photodynamic response as it relates to the overall hydrophobicity of the photosensitizer. The membrane tracker dye 1-[4(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene (TMA-DPH), which is incorporated into plasma membranes by endocytosis, was used to establish plasma membrane uptake by EMT-6 cells of the ZnPcS3C, by colocalization, and TMA-DPH membrane uptake rates after photodynamic therapy were used to quantify membrane damage. TMA-DPH colocalization patterns show plasma membrane uptake of the photosensitizers after short 1 h incubation periods. TMA-DPH plasma membrane uptake rates after illumination of the photosensitizer-treated cells show a parabolic relationship with photosensitizer hydrophobicity that correlates well with the phototoxicity of the ZnPcS3C,. After a 1 h incubation period, overall phototoxicity correlates closely with the postillumination rate of TMA-DPH incorporation into the cell membrane, suggesting a major role of plasma membrane damage in the overall PDT effect. In contrast, after a 24 h incubation, phototoxicity shows a stronger but imperfect correlation with total cellular photosensitizer uptake rather than TMA-DPH membrane uptake, suggesting a partial shift in the cellular damage responsible for photosensitization from the plasma membrane to intracellular targets. We conclude that plasma membrane localization of the amphiphilic ZnPcS3C6-C9 is a major factor in their overall photodynamic activity.     

HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells: an experimental model for photosensitization by endogenous porphyrins

Endogenous protoporphyurin IX (PpIX) synthesis after δ-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) administration occurs in cancer cells in vivo; PpIX, which has a short half-life, may thus constitute a good alternative to haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) (or Photofrin). This study assesses the ability of the human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 to synthesize PpIX in vitro from exogenous ALA, and compares ALA-induced toxicity and phototoxicity with the photodynamic therapy (PDT) effects of HPD on this cell line.

ALA induced a dose-dependent dark toxicity, with 79% and 66% cell survival for 50 and 100 μg ml⁻¹ ALA respectively after 3 h incubation; the same treatment, followed by laser irradiation (λ = 632 nm, 25 J cm⁻²), induced a dose-dependent phototoxicity, with 54% and 19% cell survival 24 h after PDT. Whatever the incubation time with ALA, a 3 h delay before light exposure was found to be optimal to reach a maximum phototoxicity.

HPD induced a slight dose-dependent toxicity in HepG2 cells and a dose- and time-dependent phototoxicity ten times greater than that of ALA-PpIX PDT. After 3 h incubation of 2.5 and 5 μg ml⁻¹ HPD, followed by laser irradiation (λ = 632 nm, 25 J cm⁻²), cell survival was 59% and 24% respectively at 24 h.

Photoproducts induced by light irradiation of porphyrins absorb light in the red spectral region at longer wavelengths than the original porphyrins. The possible enhancement of PDT effects after HepG2 cell incubation with ALA or HPD was investigated by irradiating cells successively with red light (λ = 632 nm) and light (λ = 650 nm). The total fluence was kept constant at 25 J cm⁻². For both HPD and ALA-PpIX PDT, phototoxicity was lower when cells were irradiated for increased periods with λ = 650 nm light than with λ = 632 nm light alone. This suggests that any photoproducts involved either have a short life or are poorly photoreactive.

Not all cell lines can synthesize PpIX after ALA incubation. HepG2 cells, which can synthesize enzymes and precursors of endogenous porphyrin synthesis, represent a good in vitro model for experiments using ALA-PpIX PDT. In addition, ALA-PpIX PDT may represent a new, specific treatment for hepatocarcinomas.     

Control of photobleaching in photodynamic therapy using the photodecarbonylation reaction of ruthenium phthalocyanine complexes via stepwise two-photon excitation

In this study, we have investigated the photochemical properties and photodynamic effects of ruthenium phthalocyanine (RuPc(CO)(Py)) and naphthalocyanine (RuNc(CO)(Py)) complexes. When a nanosecond-pulsed laser is used, the photodecarbonylation of our Ru complexes efficiently proceeds via stepwise two-photon excitation, while the reaction yields are negligibly small when a continuous-wave (CW) laser is employed. The pulsed laser selective photodecarbonylation decreases the Q-band absorbance, which satisfies what the photodynamic therapy (PDT) requires of the photobleaching. For RuPc(CO)(Py), the photochemical reactions including both the photodecarbonylation and just photobleaching occur in HeLa cells in vitro. Toxicity and phototoxicity tests indicate that our RuPc(CO)(Py) and RuNc(CO)(Py) complexes in concentrations of 0.3-1 microM and 1-2 microM, respectively, are applicable as PDT agents. The phototoxicity is consistent with the photochemical properties of these complexes, namely, excited triplet lifetimes (10 and 4.8 micros for the Pc and Nc complexes, respectively) and singlet oxygen yields (0.48 and 0.35 for the Pc and Nc complexes, respectively). On the basis of these results, we propose a novel concept for achieving a greater depth of necrosis in PDT as follows: (1) PDT of upper cellular layers using CW-laser irradiation; (2) efficient photobleaching in upper cellular layers using pulsed dye-laser irradiation, which results in an increase in the therapeutic depth of red light; (3) PDT directed toward deeper tumor tissues using CW laser irradiation. In addition, these Ru complexes are promising as CO release agents for investigative biochemistry.     

Synthesis of a Photostable Near‐Infrared‐Absorbing Photosensitizer for Selective Photodamage to Cancer Cells

A new class of near‐infrared (NIR)‐absorptive (>900 nm) photosensitizer based on a phenothiazinium scaffold is reported. The stable solid compound, o‐DAP, the oxidative form of 3,7‐bis(4‐methylaminophenyl)‐10H‐phenothiazine, can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS, singlet oxygen and superoxide) under appropriate irradiation conditions. After biologically evaluating the intracellular uptake, localization, and phototoxicity of this compound, it was concluded that o‐DAP is photostable and a potential selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent under either NIR or white light irradiation because its photodamage is more efficient in cancer cells than in normal cells and is without significant dark toxicity. This is very rare for photosensitizers in PDT applications.     

Comparison of the photodynamic effect of exogenous photoprotoporphyrin and protoporphyrin IX on PAM 212 murine keratinocytes

A comparative study of the cellular photosensitizing properties of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and photoprotoporphyrin (Ppp) was carried out in the transformed murine keratinocyte cell line, PAM 212. Time-course fluorescence studies were performed to determine the rate of uptake by cells together with fluorescence microscopy. The sensitized cells were laser irradiated with a range of light doses at 635 or 670 nm to determine the phototoxicity of the two compounds and to investigate their relative fluorescence photobleaching properties. Ppp showed enhanced phototoxicity at both its optimal activation wavelength of 670 nm (eight times more phototoxic than PpIX activated at its optimal wavelength of 635 nm for the same fluence) and at 635 nm (three times more phototoxic than PpIX at the same wavelength), using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The photobleaching rate of Ppp in cells was found to be higher using 670 nm irradiation compared with that of PpIX at 635 nm irradiation. At 635 nm, however, the photobleaching rate of Ppp was comparable to that of PpIX. The photobleaching quantum yields of the two compounds in cells were found to be similar at approximately 5 x 10(-4), with the same value confirmed at both 670 and 635 nm irradiation for Ppp. The fluorescence lifetime of Ppp in cells was measured as 5.4 ns using time-correlated single photon counting.     

Polymeric Encapsulation of Novel Homoleptic Bis(dipyrrinato) Zinc(II) Complexes with Long Lifetimes for Applications as Photodynamic Therapy Photosensitisers

The use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat cancer has received increasing attention over the last years. However, the clinically used photosensitisers (PSs) have some limitations that include poor aqueous solubility, hepatotoxicity, photobleaching, aggregation, and slow clearance from the body, so the design of new classes of PSs is of great interest. We present the use of bis(dipyrrinato)zinc(II) complexes with exceptionally long lifetimes as efficient PDT PSs. Based on the heavy‐atom effect, intersystem crossing of these complexes changes the excited state from singlet to a triplet state, thereby enabling singlet oxygen generation. To overcome the limitation of quenching effects in water and improve water solubility, the lead compound 3 was encapsulated in a polymer matrix. It showed impressive phototoxicity upon irradiation at 500 nm in various monolayer cancer cells as well as 3D multicellular tumour spheroids, without observed dark toxicity.     

Photodynamic therapy with aluminum-chloro-phtalocyanine induces necrosis and vascular damage in mice tongue tumors

In this paper we describe the efficacy of the liposomal-AlClPc (aluminum-chloro-phthalocyanine) formulation in PDT study against Ehrlich tumor cells proliferation in immunocompetent swiss mice tongue. Experiments were conduced in sixteen tumor induced mice that were divided in three control groups: (1) tumor without treatment; (2) tumor with 100 J/cm² laser (670 nm) irradiation; and (3) tumor with AlClPc peritumoral injection; and a PDT experimental group when tumors received AlClPc injection followed by tumor irradiation. Control groups present similar macroscopically and histological patterns after treatments, while PDT treatment induced 90% of Ehrlich tumor necrosis after 24 h of one single application, showing the efficacy of liposome-AlClPc (aluminum-chloro-phthalocyanine) mediated PDT on the treatment of oral cancer.     

Metal-Organic Layer Delivers 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Porphyrin for Dual-Organelle-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy

The efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) depends on the subcellular localization of photosensitizers. Herein, we report a dual-organelle-targeted nanoparticle platform for enhanced PDT of cancer. By grafting 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to a Hf₁₂-based nanoscale metal-organic layer (Hf-MOL) via carboxylate coordination, ALA/Hf-MOL enhanced ALA delivery and protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) synthesis in mitochondria, and trapped the Hf-MOL comprising 5,15-di-p-benzoatoporphyrin (DBP) photosensitizers in lysosomes. Light irradiation at 630 nm simultaneously excited PpIX and DBP to generate singlet oxygen and rapidly damage both mitochondria and lysosomes, leading to synergistic enhancement of the PDT efficacy. The dual-organelle-targeted ALA/Hf-MOL outperformed Hf-MOL in preclinical PDT studies, with a 2.7-fold lower half maximal inhibitory concentration in cytotoxicity assays in vitro and a 3-fold higher cure rate in a colon cancer model in vivo.     

Cytotoxic and Photocytotoxic Effects of Cercosporin on Human Tumor Cell Lines

Cercosporin is a naturally occurring perylenequinone. Although other perylenequinones have been extensively studied as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy of cancer (PDT), cercosporin has been studied in this light only within the remits of phytopathology. Herein, we investigated the photocytotoxicity of cercosporin against two glioblastoma multiforme (T98G and U87) and one breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) human cell lines. Cercosporin was found to be a potent singlet oxygen producer upon 532 nm excitation, while its cell loading was similar for MCF7 and U87, but approximately threefold higher for T98G cells. The subcellular localization of cercosporin was in all cases in both mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. Light irradiation of cercosporin‐incubated cells around 450 nm showed that T98G cells were more susceptible to cercosporin PDT, mainly due to their higher cercosporin uptake. Metabolic studies before and 1 h following cercosporin PDT showed that cercosporin PDT instigated a bioenergetic collapse in both the respiratory and glycolytic activities of all cell lines. In the dark, cercosporin exhibited a synergistic cytotoxicity with copper only in the most respiratory cell lines (MCF7 and T98G). Cercosporin is a potent photosensitizer, but with a short activation wavelength, mostly suitable for superficial PDT treatments, especially when it is necessary to avoid perforations.     

SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF POTENTIAL SENSITIZERS FOR NEW PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY START MECHANISMS via TWO-STEP EXCITED ELECTRONIC STATES

Three substituted tetraazaporphyrins, octa-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine, tetra-(4-tert-butyl)phthalocyanine and tetra-(4-tert-butyi)phthalocyanatomagnesium (t₄-PcMg), were spectroscopically checked in solutions and liposomes with respect to suitability as potential sensitizers of a possible new start mechanism for photodynamic therapy (PDT) from a stepwise excited higher singlet state. This PDT start mechanism was recently proposed to overcome the problem of O₂ (¹δ₂)-caused cutaneous phototoxicity in PDT. By means of absorption and fluorescence measurements as well as nonlinear absorption investigation, transient spectroscopy and lasing experiments, compound t₄-PcMg was found to have the most appropriate properties: Based on a high fluorescence quantum yield (φ_fi= 0.84) and a very low crossing to the triplet (φ_isc= 0.05), two higher excited states can be effectively populated both by two stepwise absorption transitions at 674 nm and consecutive absorption transitions at 674 and 710 nm. Moreover, t₄-PcMg incorporates into liposomes very well with spectroscopic properties similar to those in solution.     

Photobleaching of hypericin bound to human serum albumin,cultured adenocarcinoma cells and nude mice skin

Hypericin is a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) characterized by a high yield of singlet oxygen. Photobleaching of hypericin has been studied by means of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in different biological systems: in human serum albumin solution, in cultured human adenocarcinoma WiDr cells and in the skin of nude mice. Prolonged exposure to light (up to 95 min, 100 mW/cm2) of wavelength around 596 nm induced fluence-dependent photobleaching of hypericin in all studied systems. The photobleaching was not oxygen dependent, and singlet oxygen probably played no significant role. Emission bands in the spectral regions 420-560 nm and above 600 nm characterize the photoproducts formed. An emission band at 615-635 nm was observed after irradiation of cells incubated with hypericin or of mouse skin in vivo but not in albumin solution. The excitation spectrum of these products resembled that of hypericin. Hypericin appears to be more photostable than most sensitizers used in PDT, including mTHPC and Photofrin.     

One- and Two-Photon Phototherapeutic Effects of RuII Polypyridine Complexes in the Hypoxic Centre of Large Multicellular Tumor Spheroids and Tumor-Bearing Mice**

During the last decades, photodynamic therapy (PDT), an approved medical technique, has received increasing attention to treat certain types of cancer. Despite recent improvements, the treatment of large tumors remains a major clinical challenge due to the low ability of the photosensitizer (PS) to penetrate a 3D cellular architecture and the low oxygen concentrations present in the tumor center. To mimic the conditions found in clinical tumors, exceptionally large 3D multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTSs) with a diameter of 800 μm were used in this work to test a series of new Ru^II polypyridine complexes as one-photon and two-photon PSs. These metal complexes were found to fully penetrate the 3D cellular architecture and to generate singlet oxygen in the hypoxic center upon light irradiation. While having no observed dark toxicity, the lead compound of this study showed an impressive phototoxicity upon clinically relevant one-photon (595 nm) or two-photon (800 nm) excitation with a full eradication of the hypoxic center of the MCTSs. Importantly, this efficacy was also demonstrated on mice bearing an adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial tumor.     

Mineralization of 4-Chlorophenol under Visible Light Irradiation in the Presence of Aluminum and Zinc Phthalocyaninesulfonates

Photosensitized oxidation of 4-chlorophenol (4CP) by the title complexes (AIPcS and ZnPcS) in aerated aqueous solution uponvisible light irradiation(λ=450nm) has been investigated using methanol as a disassociating reagent.It is confirmed that the monomeric species of the sesitizer is more active than the corresponding dimer in singlet oxygen generation for 4CP oxidation.However,the monomer is also the main component found in the sensitlzer‘s photobleaching, In this reload, AIPcS is much more stable than ZnPcS, and the Dhotoble~hlno is observed to proceed via singlet and triplet oxygen, respectlvely.The final products of 4CP oxidation in alkaline solution are carbon dioxide and chloride ions.while at pH=7 and pH=3 the p-benzoquinone is the product.The temperature is found to have influence on both the photosensitized degradation of methyl orange and ZnPcS photobleaching,with an activation energy of 15.8 and 24.2kJ/mol,respectively.     

Photodynamic actinometry using microspheres: concept, development and responsivity

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) relies on three main ingredients, oxygen, light and photoactivating compounds, although the PDT response is definitively contingent on the site and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study describes the development of a novel, fluorescent-based actinometer microsphere system as a means of discerning spatially resolved dosimetry of total fluence and ROS production. Providing a high resolution, localized, in situ measurement of fluence and ROS generation is critical for developing in vivo PDT protocols. Alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microspheres were produced using ionotropic gelation of sodium alginate droplets, ranging from 80 to 200 microm in diameter, incorporating two dyes, ADS680WS (ADS) and Rhodophyta-phycoerythrin (RPE), attached to the spheres' inside and outside layers, respectively. To test the responsivity and dynamic range of RPE for ROS detection, the production of ROS was initiated either chemically using increasing concentrations of potassium perchromate or photochemically using aluminum tetrasulphonated phthalocyanine. The generation of singlet oxygen was confirmed by phosphorescence at 1270 nm. The resulting photodegradation and decrease in fluorescence of RPE was found to correlate with increased perchromate or PDT treatment fluence, respectively. This effect was independent of pH (6.5-8) and could be inhibited using sodium azide. RPE was not susceptible to photobleaching with light alone (670 nm; 150 Jcm(-2)). ADS, which absorbs light between 600 and 750 nm, showed a direct correlation between radiant exposure (670 nm; 0-100 Jcm(-2)) and diminished fluorescence. Photobleaching was independent of irradiance (10-40 mW cm(-2)). We propose that actinometer microspheres may provide a means for obtaining high spatial resolution information regarding delivered PDT dose within model systems during investigational PDT development and dosimetric information for clinical extracorporeal PDT as in the case of ex vivo bone marrow purging.     

Photophysics and nonlinear optical properties of tetra- and octabrominated silicon naphthalocyanines

The effect of the number of bromide substituents on the photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of the tetrabrominated naphthalocyanine Br4(tBu2PhO)4NcSi[OSi(Hex)3]2 (1) and the octabrominated naphthalocyanine Br8NcSi[OSi(Hex)3]2 (2) has been investigated through various spectroscopic techniques. Absorption and emission of 1 and 2 have been studied at room temperature and 77 K to determine the spectral properties of the ground and the excited states and the lifetimes and quantum yields of formation of the excited states. There is a moderate increase of the quantum yield of the triplet excited-state formation (PhiT = 0.10 vs 0.13) and a decrease of the triplet excited-state lifetime (tauT approximately 70 vs 50 mus) from 1 to 2. These can be attributed to the stronger heavy atom effect produced by the larger number of peripheral bromide substituents in 2 considering that an excited state with a triplet manifold is involved in the excitation dynamics of both complexes 1 and 2. The quantum yields of the singlet oxygen formation (PhiDelta) upon irradiation of 1 and 2 at 355 nm were also evaluated, and a value of PhiDelta(1) = PhiDelta(2) = 0.16 was obtained. In addition to that, octabrominated complex 2 displays a larger decrease of nonlinear optical transmission for nanosecond pulses at 532 nm with respect to the tetrabrominated complex 1. The nanosecond Z-scan experiments reveal that 1 and 2 exhibit both a reverse saturable absorption and a nonlinear refraction at 532 nm. However, both the sign and the magnitude of the nonlinear refraction change from 1 to 2. For picosecond Z-scan in the visible spectral region, these two complexes exhibit only reverse saturable absorption, and the excited-state absorption cross-section increases at longer wavelengths.     

The Effects of Serum on Cellular Uptake and Phototoxicity of Mono-L-Aspartyl Chlorin e6 (NPe6) In Vitro

Abstract— Previous reports showed that the photosensitizer mono- l -aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6) binds to serum proteins. However, the influence of this binding on the cellular uptake and photodynamic therapy (PDT) phototoxicity of NPe6 is still undefined. In this paper, we studied how serum in medium affected the P388 cellular uptake and PDT phototoxicity of NPe6 in vitro. This was assessed by (1) detection of the red shift (654 nm Q band peak of absorption) induced by protein binding NPe6; (2) detection of intracellular concentration of NPe6 by HPLC and (3) measurements of the cell survival ratio after PDT by MTT assay. The 654 nm Q band peak of NPe6 shifted to 665 nm after binding of NPe6 and serum proteins. The protein-bound NPe6 cannot be uptaken by cells, thus there was no PDT phototoxicity. Nevertheless, phototoxicity recovered when the concentration of NPe6 excessed the serum protein binding ability or there was free serum protein in the medium. These data suggested that the cellular uptake of NPe6 is inhibited by serum components in the medium, and that only free NPe6 is accumulated by P388 cells even during relatively long incubations. The cytotoxicity of PDT mainly depends on the free NPe6 level in the medium.     

Synthesis and optical limiting properties of axially bridged phthalocyanines: [(tBu4PcGa)2O] and [(tBu4PcIn)2O

Highly soluble [(tBu(4)PcM)(2)O] phthalocyanine dimers (M=Ga(III) (3), In(III) (4)) were prepared by the reaction of [tBu(4)PcMCl] (M=Ga(III) (1), In(III) (2)) with excess of concentrated H(2)SO(4) at -20 degrees C. The Mbond;Obond;M linkages in 3 and 4 are not stable against concentrated H(2)SO(4) at room temperature, 6 n HCl at reflux, or during isolation under column chromatographic conditions (e.g. silica gel/toluene). The stability of 3 in solution is considerably higher than that of 4. The mu-oxo-bridged phthalocyanine dimers 3 and 4 have a more intense photoluminescence emission in the red region than the monomers 1 and 2. The gallium phthalocyanines 1 and 3 have fluorescence lifetimes of a few nanoseconds, while those of the indium phthalocyanines 2 and 4 last for only several hundred picoseconds. Comparison of the fluorescence lifetimes of monomers 1 and 3 with dimers 2 and 4, reveals that the dimers have longer lifetimes of the excited singlet states. The transient absorption spectrum is similar for all of the compounds, and the transient absorption band at about 520 nm, observed by nanosecond laser irradiation, can be assigned to the transition from the lowest triplet excited state to the upper triplet excited states (T-T absorption). The magnitude of the optical limiting exhibited by 1, 2, 3, and 4 in toluene at 532 nm laser pulse irradiation is in the order: 4>3>2>1 [corrected]. The values of the imaginary third-order nonlinear susceptibility Im[chi((3))] of the above compounds at 532 nm in toluene are also reported. These results demonstrate that these compounds are candidates for optical limiting applications.     

Thermal stability and photostability of water solutions of sulfophthalocyanines of Ru(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Fe(III) and Co(II)

The thermal and photochemical stabilities were investigated for tetrasulfophthalocyanines of Cu, Co, Ni, Fe and Ru (MPcS) and for two monosulfophthalocyanines of Ru, either without (RuPcS1) or with the coordination of two units of DMSO in apical positions ([RuPcS1(DMSO)₂]DMSO). The thermal degradation of all of the studied complexes never showed the formation of spectroscopically detectable intermediates. CuPcS was the most stable complex, while all of the Ru-sulfophthalocyanines were particularly prone to thermal degradation. Photodegradation showed a better selectivity, and as with thermal degradation, the order of reactivity goes from the most stable CuPcS, to the least stable Ru-sulfophthalocyanines (RuPcS, RuPcS1 and [RuPcS(DMSO)₂]DMSO). In particular, when the RuPcS complex was irradiated, a stable intermediate was detected that had an absorption band at 532 nm and a mass spectrum attributable to the tetrasulfophthalocyanine from oxidative ring cleavage by the action of the singlet oxygen formed via ¹*RuPcS photosensitization. The most probable molecular formula demonstrates a new complex, with a cleaved ring containing an -NO group and two -OH groups that are all bonded at the two extremities of the open-chain molecule.