Luminescent lanthanide complexes are increasingly used for imaging. Due to the forbidden nature of the f-f-transitions from which lanthanide emissions arise, a light-harvesting organic chromophore ('antenna') is usually incorporated into these complexes. Tetrapyrroles, specifically porphyrins and hydroporphyrins are known to sensitize near infrared emission from Yb and Nd. In the case of one Nd-complex equipped with a free base chlorin (hydroporphyrin) antenna, the generation of singlet oxygen upon antenna irradiation was observed, in addition to Nd-emission.The rational design of bright tetrapyrrole-lanthanide complexes for imaging, and highly effective Nd-chlorin-based singlet oxygen generating complexes for cell killing is currently hampered by a limited understanding of structure-property relationships. Here, a series of lanthanide-tetrapyrrole complexes are presented which explore the effect tetrapyrrole structure, linker length and type, tetrapyrrole metalation state, and tetrapyrrole:lanthanide stiochiometry have on complex photophysics. 

Synthesis and characterization of lanthanide-tetrapyrrole dyads

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.