Synthesis and photophysical properties of covalent conjugates of aqua platinum(II) and octacarboxy-substituted zinc phthalocyanine

Abstract

New covalent conjugates of aqua platinum(II) and octacarboxy-substituted zinc phthalocyanine, bearing one, two, three and four aqua platinum moieties on the periphery of the Pc ligand have been synthesized and characterized. The effect of the stepwise introduction of the aqua platinums on the photophysical and photochemical properties of these compounds has been investigated in dimethylsulfoxide solution. It has been found that aqua platinum moieties have only a limited effect on the dynamics of the singlet and triplet excited states, on the ability to sensitize singlet oxygen formation and on the photostability. Each conjugate has a high singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ 0.51–0.62) and thus retains potential for use as a dual action anticancer drugs by acting as a sensitizer for PDT in addition to the likely chemotherapeutic effects of the Pt(II) complexes.