Corroles as triplet photosensitizers

Despite the similarity with porphyrins, the focus on the photophysical properties of corroles and their chelates with transition and post-transition metal ions (metallocorroles) started quite late. Free base corroles are much more fluorescent than related macrocycles; and this feature can be easily changed and tuned by facile synthetic manipulations. Metallocorroles may be designed as to display desired properties such as delayed fluorescence, RT phosphorescence, high yield of intersystem crossing, efficient singlet oxygen generation, and more. The practical utility of metallocorroles has been exemplified by their use as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy for fighting cancer, photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms, as catalysts for photo-assisted organic reactions and energy-relevant inorganic transformations. Key to success in the above applications is the ability to delicately control the photophysical properties, redox potentials, and the selective positioning of substituents on the corrole macrocycle. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.