New type of metal-free and Zinc(II), In(III), Ga(III) phthalocyanines carrying biologically active substituents: Synthesis and photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy activity.

• A new type of phthalocyanines carrying benzimidazole groups. • Investigation of the photophysical-chemical properties. • Investigation of the PDT activities. This study reports on novel phthalocyanines having benzimidazole units which are known to have biological properties. 4-(4-(5-chloro-1H-benzo[ d ]imidazol-2-yl) substituted metal-free, Zn(II), In(III) and Ga(III) phthalocyanines were synthesized, these newly synthesized molecules that were substituted by oxygen bridges were fully characterized. For the purpose of determining their potency for photodynamic therapy, the photophysicochemical properties were investigated in DMSO. The H 2 Pc (4) showed higher fluorescence quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime as compared to metallated phthalocyanines derivatives. However, the highest singlet oxygen (Φ Δ) and triplet state quantum yields (Φ T) values were obtained with the In(III)Pc (5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]