Efficiency Factors of Singlet Oxygen Generation from Core-Modified Expanded Porphyric : Tetrathiarubyrin in Ethanol

The photophysical properties and the singlet oxygen generation efficiency of tetrathiarubyrin have been investigated to elucidate the possibility of its use as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) photosensitizer by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic methods. The observed photophysical properties were affected by various molecular aspects, such as extended ${\pi}conjugation$, structural distortion, and internal heavy atom. The steady-state electronic absorption spectrum was red-shifted due to the extended $\pi-conjugation$, and the spin orbital coupling was enhanced by the structural distortion and the internal heavy atom effect. As a result of the enhanced spin orbital coupling, the triplet quantum yield increased to 0.90 $\pm$ 0.10 and the triplet state lifetime was shortened to 7.0 $\pm$ 1.2 ${\mu}s$. Since the triplet state decays at a relatively faster rate, the efficiency of the oxygen quenching of the triplet state decreases. The singlet oxygen quantum yield was estimated to be 0.52 $\pm$ 0.02, which is somewhat lower than expected. On the other hand, the efficiency of singlet oxygen generation during the oxygen quenching of triplet state, $f{\Delta}^T$, is near unity. Such high efficiency of singlet oxygen generation can be explained by the following two possible factors: The hydrogen bonding of ethanol which impedes the deactivation pathway of the charge transfer complex with oxygen to the ground state, the less probability of the aggregation formation.