Mild access to planar-chiral ortho-condensed aromatic ferrocenes via gold(i)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of ortho-alkynylaryl ferrocenes.

An efficient approach to (Rp) planar-chiral tri- and tetracyclic ortho-condensed aromatic ferrocenes was developed through the enantioselective cationic Au(i)-catalyzed cycloisomerization, in the presence of bidentate phosphine ligand (R)-DTBM-Segphos, from readily available ortho-alkynylaryl ferrocenes under very mild conditions (11 examples, up to 92% yield and 93% ee).

Glucose-functionalized amino-OPEs as biocompatible photosensitizers in PDT.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive procedure that can provide a selective eradication of neoplastic diseases by the combined effect of a photosensitizer, light and oxygen. New amino oligo(phenylene-ethynylene)s (OPEs), bearing hydrophilic glucoside terminations, have been prepared, characterized and tested as photosensitizers in PDT. The effectiveness of these compounds in combination with UVA light has been checked on two tumor cell lines (HEp-2 and HeLa cells, derived from a larynx carcinoma and a cervical carcinoma, respectively). The compounds triggered a mitotic blockage that led to the cell death, being the effect active up to 3 µm concentration. The photophysical properties of OPEs, such as high quantum yield, stability, singlet oxygen production, biocompatibility, easy cell-internalization and very good response even at low concentration, make them promising photosensitizers in the application of PDT.