Structures and Reactivity Patterns of Group 9 Metallocorroles

Group 9 metallocorroles 1-M(PPh_3) and 1-M(py)_2 [M = Co(III), Rh(III), Ir(III); 1 denotes the trianion of 5,10,15-tris-pentafluorophenylcorrole] have been fully characterized by structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical methods. Crystal structure analyses reveal that average metal−N(pyrrole) bond lengths of the bis-pyridine metal(III) complexes increase from Co (1.886 Å) to Rh (1.957 Å)/Ir (1.963 Å); and the average metal−N(pyridine) bond lengths also increase from Co (1.995 Å) to Rh (2.065 Å)/Ir (2.059 Å). Ligand affinities for 1-M(PPh_3) axial coordination sites increase dramatically in the order 1-Co(PPh_3) < 1-Rh(PPh_3) < 1-Ir(PPh_3). There is a surprising invariance in the M(+/0) reduction potentials within the five- and six-coordinate corrole series, and even between them; the average M(+/0) potential of 1-M(PPh_3) is 0.78 V vs Ag/AgCl in CH_2Cl_2 solution, whereas that of 1-M(py)_2 is 0.70 V under the same conditions. Electronic structures of one-electron-oxidized 1-M(py)_2 complexes have been assigned by analysis of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic measurements: oxidation is corrole-centered for 1-Co(py)_2 (g = 2.008) and 1-Rh(py)_2 (g = 2.003), and metal-centered for 1-Ir(tma)_2 (g_(zz) = 2.489, g_(yy) = 2.010, g_(xx) = 1.884, g_(av) = 2.128) and 1-Ir(py)_2 (g_(zz) = 2.401, g_(yy) = 2.000, g_(xx) = 1.937, g_(av) = 2.113)

A Combined Vis-Pump Supercontinuum Probe and Broadband Fluorescence Up- Conversion Study

Corroles are a developing class of tetrapyrrole-based molecules with significant chemical potential and relatively unexplored photophysical properties. We combined femtosecond broadband fluorescence up-conversion and fs broadband Vis-pump Vis-probe spectroscopy to comprehensively characterize the photoreaction of 5,10,15-tris-pentafluorophenyl-corrolato-antimony(V )-trans-difluoride (Sb-tpfc-F2). Upon fs Soret band excitation at ~400 nm, the energy relaxed almost completely to Q band electronic excited states with a time constant of 500 ± 100 fs; this is evident from the decay of Soret band fluorescence at around 430 nm and the rise time of Q band fluorescence, as well as from Q band stimulated emission signals at 600 and 650 nm with the same time constant. Relaxation processes on a time scale of 10 and 20 ps were observed in the fluorescence and absorption signals. Triplet formation showed a time constant of 400 ps, with an intersystem crossing yield from the Q band to the triplet manifold of between 95% and 99%. This efficient triplet formation is due to the spin-orbit coupling of the antimony ion

Investigating photoexcitation-induced mitochondrial damage by chemotherapeutic corroles using multimode optical imaging

We recently reported that a targeted, brightly fluorescent gallium corrole (HerGa) is highly effective for breast tumor detection and treatment. Unlike structurally similar porphryins, HerGa exhibits tumor-targeted toxicity without the need for photoexcitation. We have now examined whether photoexcitation further modulates HerGa toxicity, using multimode optical imaging of live cells, including two-photon excited fluorescence, differential interference contrast (DIC), spectral, and lifetime imaging. Using two-photon excited fluorescence imaging, we observed that light at specific wavelengths augments the HerGa-mediated mitochondrial membrane potential disruption of breast cancer cells in situ. In addition, DIC, spectral, and fluorescence lifetime imaging enabled us to both validate cell damage by HerGa photoexcitation and investigate HerGa internalization, thus allowing optimization of light dose and timing. Our demonstration of HerGa phototoxicity opens the way for development of new methods of cancer intervention using tumor-targeted corroles

Differential Cytostatic and Cytotoxic Action of Metallocorroles against Human Cancer Cells: Potential Platforms for Anticancer Drug Development

A gallium(III)-substituted amphiphilic corrole noncovalently associated with a targeting protein was previously found by us to confer promising cytotoxic and antitumor activities against a breast cancer cell line and a mouse xenograft breast cancer model. To further explore potential anticancer applications, the cytostatic and cytotoxic properties of six nontargeted metallocorroles were evaluated against seven human cancer cell lines. Results indicated that toxicity toward human cancer cells depended on the metal ion as well as corrole functional group substitution. Ga(III)-substituted metallocorrole 1-Ga inhibited proliferation of breast (MDA-MB-231), melanoma (SK-MEL-28), and ovarian (OVCAR-3) cancer cells primarily by arrest of DNA replication, whereas 2-Mn displayed both cytostatic and cytotoxic properties. Confocal microscopy revealed extensive uptake of 1-Ga into the cytoplasm of melanoma and ovarian cancer cells, while prostate cancer cells (DU-145) displayed extensive nuclear localization. The localization of 1-Ga to the nucleus in DU-145 cells was exploited to achieve a 3-fold enhancement in the IC_(50) of doxorubicin upon coadministration. Time–course studies showed that over 90% of melanoma cells incubated with 30 μM 1-Ga internalized metallocorrole after 15 min. Cellular uptake of 1-Ga and 1-Al was fastest and most efficient in melanoma, followed by prostate and ovarian cancer cells. Cell cycle analyses revealed that bis-sulfonated corroles containing Al(III), Ga(III), and Mn(III) induced late M phase arrest in several different cancer cell lines, a feature that could be developed for potential therapeutic benefit

Tumor detection and elimination by a targeted gallium corrole

Sulfonated gallium(III) corroles are intensely fluorescent macrocyclic compounds that spontaneously assemble with carrier proteins to undergo cell entry. We report in vivo imaging and therapeutic efficacy of a tumor-targeted corrole noncovalently assembled with a heregulin-modified protein directed at the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER). Systemic delivery of this protein-corrole complex results in tumor accumulation, which can be visualized in vivo owing to intensely red corrole fluorescence. Targeted delivery in vivo leads to tumor cell death while normal tissue is spared. These findings contrast with the effects of doxorubicin, which can elicit cardiac damage during therapy and required direct intratumoral injection to yield similar levels of tumor shrinkage compared with the systemically delivered corrole. The targeted complex ablated tumors at >5 times a lower dose than untargeted systemic doxorubicin, and the corrole did not damage heart tissue. Complexes remained intact in serum and the carrier protein elicited no detectable immunogenicity. The sulfonated gallium(III) corrole functions both for tumor detection and intervention with safety and targeting advantages over standard chemotherapeutic agents

Enhanced Synthetic Access to Tris-CF₃-Substituted Corroles

Separate focus on the oligomerization and oxidative cyclization steps required for the synthesis of 5,10,15-tris(trifluoromethyl)corrole revealed [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene (PIFA) as a superior alternative oxidant. Under optimized conditions, the pure free-base corrole was obtained with a 6-fold increase in chemical yield and an 11-fold rise in isolated material per synthesis. The corresponding gallium(III) and manganese(III) complexes were isolated by adding the appropriate metal salt prior to corrole purification