João M.M. Rodrigues

New porphyrin amino acid conjugates: Synthesis and photodynamic effect in human epithelial cells

The efficacy of new porphyrin amino acid conjugates as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) were assayed in vitro on tumoral (HeLa) and on non tumoral (HaCaT) human cell lines. The conjugates stable in liposomes are able to penetrate efficiently in the cytoplasm of cultured cancer and normal cells. No dark cytotoxicity is observed at the same concentration used for PDT cell treatment and during long incubation time (24h). The cell survival after the PDT treatment with visible light is dependent upon light exposure level and compound concentration. The tested compounds show higher photocytotoxicity in tumoral HeLa cells than in no tumoral HaCaT cells. The results suggest that these amino acid porphyrin conjugates are potential photosensitizers for PDT.

Synthesis and anion binding properties of porphyrins and related compounds

Over the last two decades the preparation of pyrrole-based receptors for anion recognition has attracted considerable attention. In this regard porphyrins, phthalocyanines and expanded porphyrins have been used as strong and selective receptors while the combination of those with different techniques and materials can boost their applicability in different applications as chemosensors and extracting systems. Improvements in the field, including the synthesis of this kind of compounds, can contribute to the development of efficient, cheap, and easy-to-prepare anion receptors. Extensive efforts have been made to improve the affinity and selectivity of these compounds and the continuous expansion of related research makes this chemistry even more promising. In this review, we summarize the most recent developments in anion binding studies while outlining the strategies that may be used to synthesize and functionalize these type of macrocycles.

5‐[4‐(Diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorophenyl]‐10,15,20‐tris(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin

The title compound, C(48)H(20)F(19)N(4)O(3)P, prepared by the nucleophilic attack of triethyl phosphite on one of the 4-fluoro atoms of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin, contains a single molecule in the asymmetric unit. The porphyrin unit is almost planar [largest non-H atom deviation = 0.174 (6) Å], and has the planes of the neighbouring benzene rings oriented at angles ranging from 64.3 (2) to 89.6 (3)° relative to the porphyrin core. The P=O group is almost coplanar with the attached benzene ring, subtending an angle of 4.0 (3)°. Several weak supramolecular interactions, namely C-H...π, C-F...π, P=O...π, C-H...(O,F) and F...F contacts, contribute to the crystal packing.