Progress Towards Synthetic Chlorins with Graded Polarity, Conjugatable Substituents, and Wavelength Tunability

Structures of S-(pyridin-2-yl) 4-nitro-benzo-thio-ate, S-(pyridin-2-yl) 4-methyl-benzo-thio-ate and S-(pyridin-2-yl) 4-meth-oxy-benzo-thio-ate: building blocks for low-symmetry multifunctional tetra-pyrroles

The crystal structures of three S-(pyridin-2-yl) benzo-thio-esters with varying para-phenyl substituents are presented, namely, S-(pyridin-2-yl) 4-nitro-benzo-thio-ate (1, C₁₂H₈N₂O₃S), S-(pyridin-2-yl) 4-methyl-benzo-thio-ate (2, C₁₃H₁₁NO₂S) and S-(pyridin-2-yl) 4-meth-oxy-benzo-thio-ate (3, C₁₃H₁₁NO₂S). This class of compounds are used in the mono-acyl-ation of pyrrolic species to yield multifunctional tetra-pyrroles. The structures presented herein are the first of their compound class. The dominant inter-actions present in this series are π-π stacking and C-H⋯O inter-actions, and as the para-phenyl motif changes from electron withdrawing (NO₂, 1) to electron donating (OCH₃, 3), changes are observed in the inter-actions present in the crystal packing, from predominant π-π stacking in 1 to exclusively C-H⋯O/N inter-actions (C_ar-yl-H⋯O_carbon-yl, C-H⋯O_meth-oxy and C_ar-yl-H⋯N_pyridine) in 3.

Improved emission of Yb(iii) ions in triazacyclononane-based macrocyclic ligands compared to cyclen-based ones

Yb(iii) complexes were synthesised from ligands with a 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) macrocyclic core. Tacn-based compounds equipped with 2 picolinate arms were more emissive than their tricarboxamide-cyclen analogues carrying the same antenna.

Bioconjugatable synthetic chlorins rendered water-soluble with three PEG-12 groups via click chemistry

Chlorins provide many ideal features for use as red-region fluorophores but require molecular tailoring for solubilization in aqueous solution. A chlorin building-block bearing 18,18-dimethyl, 15-bromo and 10-[2,4,6-tris(propargyloxy)phenyl] substituents has been transformed via click chemistry with CH3(OCH2CH[Formula: see text]-N3 followed by Suzuki coupling with 3-(4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl)propanoic acid, thereby installing a water-solubilization motif and a bioconjugatable handle, respectively. In toluene, [Formula: see text]-dimethylformamide (DMF) or water, the resulting facially encumbered free base chlorin exhibits characteristic chlorin absorption ([Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]412, 643 nm) and fluorescence ([Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]645 nm) spectra with only modest variation in fluorescence quantum yield ([Formula: see text] values (0.24, 0.25 and 0.19, respectively). The zinc chlorin derived therefrom exhibits similar spectral constancy ([Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]414 and 613 nm, [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]616 nm) and [Formula: see text] 0.094, 0.10 and 0.086 in the three solvents. The results together indicate the viability of the molecular design and synthetic methodology to create red-region fluorophores for use in diverse applications.

Furan- and Thiophene-Based Auxochromes Red-shift Chlorin Absorptions and Enable Oxidative Chlorin Polymerizations

The de novo syntheses of chemically stable chlorins with five-membered heterocyclic (furane, thiophene, formylfurane and formylthiophene) substituents in selected meso- and β-positions are reported. Heterocycle incorporation in the 3- and 13-positions shifted the chlorin absorption and emission to the red (up to λem =680 nm), thus these readily incorporated substituents function analogously to auxochromes present in chlorophylls, for example, formyl and vinyl groups. Photophysical, theoretical and X-ray crystallographic experiments revealed small but significant differences between the behavior of the furan- and the thiophene-based auxochromes. Four regioisomeric bis-thienylchlorins (3,10; 3,13, 3,15 and 10,15) were oxidatively electropolymerized; the chlorin monomer geometry had a profound impact on the polymerization efficiency and the electrochemical properties of the resulting material. Chemical co-polymerization of 3,13-bis-thienylchlorin with 3-hexylthiophene yielded an organic-soluble red-emitting polymer.

Bioconjugatable, PEGylated Hydroporphyrins for Photochemistry and Photomedicine. Narrow-Band, Red-Emitting Chlorins

Chromophores that absorb and emit in the red spectral region (600-700 nm), are water soluble, and bear a bioconjugatable tether are relatively rare yet would fulfill many applications in photochemistry and photomedicine. Here, three molecular designs have been developed wherein stable synthetic chlorins - analogues of chlorophylls - have been tailored with PEG groups for use in aqueous solution. The designs differ with regard to order of the installation (pre/post-formation of the chlorin macrocycle) and position of the PEG groups. Six PEGylated synthetic chlorins (three free bases, three zinc chelates) have been prepared, of which four are equipped with a bioconjugatable (carboxylic acid) tether. The most effective design for aqueous solubilization entails facial encumbrance where PEG groups project above and below the plane of the hydrophobic disk-like chlorin macrocycle. The chlorins possess strong absorption at ~400 nm (B band) and in the red region (Q_y band); regardless of wavelength of excitation, emission occurs in the red region. Excitation in the ~400 nm region thus provides an effective Stokes shift of >200 nm. The four bioconjugatable water-soluble chlorins exhibit Q_y absorption/emission in water at 613/614, 636/638, 698/700 and 706/710 nm. The spectral properties are essentially unchanged in DMF and water for the facially encumbered chlorins, which also exhibit narrow Q_y absorption and emission bands (full-width-at-half maximum of each <25 nm). The water-solubility was assessed by absorption spectroscopy over the concentration range ~0.4 μM - 0.4 mM. One chlorin was conjugated to a mouse polyclonal IgG antibody for use in flow cytometry with compensation beads for proof-of-principle. The conjugate displayed a sharp signal when excited by a violet laser (405 nm) with emission in the 620-660 nm range. Taken together, the designs described herein augur well for development of a set of spectrally distinct chlorins with relatively sharp bands in the red region.

Synthetic bacteriochlorins bearing polar motifs (carboxylate, phosphonate, ammonium and a short PEG). Water-solubilization, bioconjugation, and photophysical properties

A bacteriochlorin scaffold has been derivatized for life sciences applications.