Complexation of hypocrellins and bivalent metals and one-electron reduction of the complexes with electron donor

Synthesis of a novel hypocrellin B derivative and its photogeneration of semiquinone anion radical

In order to improve the photosensitizing activity of HB further, the complex of 5,8-di-Br-HB with Al(3+) was first designed and synthesized in high yield. 5,8-di-Br-HB forms a 2:1 type (metal-ligand ratio) complex with Al(3+) measured by molar ratio and continuous variation methods. The new photosensitizer was characterized by UV-Vis, IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis measurements. Based on the above experimental results, we first proposed a polymer-like structural model of the complex. The water-solubility and red absorption of the [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n) complex are both enhanced over hypocrellin B. In addition, the EPR and spectrophotometric measurements demonstrate that semiquinone anion radical of [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n) can be produced by [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n) photosensitization. The generation efficiency of ([Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n))(.-) is almost equal to that of HB(.-). These results obtained indicated that [Al(2)(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl(4)](n)was at least a favorable Type I phototherapeutic agent.

Effect of structural modification on photodynamic activity of hypocrellins

Aluminum ion complexed 5,8-di-Br-hypocrellin B is a new water-soluble perylenequinonoid derivative with enhanced absorption over hypocrellin B (HB) in the phototherapeutic window (600-900 nm). Electron paramagnetic resonance and 9,10-diphenyl-anthracene bleaching methods were used to investigate the photosensitizing activity of [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)Cl4]n in the presence of oxygen. Singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical can be generated by [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n photosensitization. Singlet oxygen (1O2) is formed via energy transfer from triplet-state [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n to ground-state molecular oxygen. 1O2 participates in the generation of a portion of superoxide anion radical (O2.-). Besides superoxide anion radical (O2.-) may originate from the electron transfer between the triplet-state [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n and the ground-state molecular oxygen. OH is formed through the Fenton-Haber-Weiss reaction and the decomposition of DMPO-1O2 adduct. Compared with HB [AL2(5,8-di-Br-HB)CL4]n primarily remains and enhances the generation efficiency of superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical but that of singlet oxygen decreases.