New fluorinated photosensitizers based on tetrakis(hydroxyphenyl) porphyrins

The potential advantages of fluorinated porphyrin photosensitizers are outlined. The syntheses of fluorinated analogues of sensitizers which are known to be active in vivo are described with particular reference to compounds of the tetrakis(hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin series. Three new fluorinated (hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins are prepared [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2-fluoro-3- hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin; 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,4-difluoro-3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin; and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin], and some of their relevant properties are described.