Design and photophysical properties of new RGD targeted tetraphenylchlorins and porphyrins

The synthesis, characterization, fluorescence, and singlet oxygen quantum yields of tetraphenylporphyrin and tetraphenylchlorin coupled to RGD type peptide are reported. C-terminus protected RGD derivatives were synthesized in liquid phase at the gram scale via an efficient convergent process. C-terminus unprotected RGD derivatives were synthesized on solid support. The UV-vis, fluorescence, and singlet emission spectra showed that the photophysical properties of the photosensitizers were retained in all compounds and some of them are very promising for potential PDT applications.