Sulphur- and Selenium-for-Oxygen Replacement as a Strategy to Obtain Dual Type I/Type II Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

The effect on the photophysical properties of sulfur- and selenium-for-oxygen replacement in the skeleton of the oxo-4-dimethylaminonaphthalimide molecule (DMNP) has been explored at the density functional (DFT) level of theory. Structural parameters, excitation energies, singlet–triplet energy gaps...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mario Prejanò, Marta Erminia Alberto, Bruna Clara De Simone, Tiziana Marino, Marirosa Toscano, Nino Russo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/7/3153
Description
Summary:The effect on the photophysical properties of sulfur- and selenium-for-oxygen replacement in the skeleton of the oxo-4-dimethylaminonaphthalimide molecule (DMNP) has been explored at the density functional (DFT) level of theory. Structural parameters, excitation energies, singlet–triplet energy gaps (ΔE<sub>S-T</sub>), and spin–orbit coupling constants (SOC) have been computed. The determined SOCs indicate an enhanced probability of intersystem crossing (ISC) in both the thio- and seleno-derivatives (SDMNP and SeDMNP, respectively) and, consequently, an enhancement of the singlet oxygen quantum yields. Inspection of Type I reactions reveals that the electron transfer mechanisms leading to the generation of superoxide is feasible for all the compounds, suggesting a dual Type I/Type II activity.
ISSN:1420-3049