meso-borneol- and meso-carbazole-substituted porphyrins: multifunctional chromophores with tunable electronic structures and antitumor activities

Abstract

Herein, a series of five C₂ symmetric H₂porphyrins with meso-borneol and meso-carbazole units have been synthesized and isolated. An analysis of the electronic structures was carried out by spectroscopic investigations and electrochemical illustrations. In addition, the chiral optical properties observed in the CD spectra can be assigned to the interchromophore through-space coupling between the borneol chiral center and the porphyrinic chromophore. Further investigation of the anticancer behaviors shows that the modulation of the biological activity behaviors could be facilely achieved by introducing various halogen atoms on the carbazole rings.