Metallotexaphyrins: a new family of photosensitisers for efficient generation of singlet oxygen

The photophysical properties of a new series of tripyrroledimethine-derived ‘expanded porphyrins’(‘texaphyrins’) are reported; these compounds show strong low energy optical absorptions in the 730–770 nm spectral range as well as a high triplet quantum yield, and act as efficient photosensitizers for the production of singlet oxygen in methanol solution.