For the first time, a fluorescent lapachone-based BODIPY was synthesised and characterised by NMR and mass spectrometry. Computational and electrochemical aspects, as well as cytotoxic activity and subcellular localisation, were studied. Confocal microscopy experiments indicated that the probe was a specific mitochondria-staining agent. These in-detail analyses were useful in understanding the cytotoxic effects and mechanism of action of this novel hybrid compound. This molecule constitutes a promising prototype owing to its potential biological activities and the new strategies aimed at mechanistic investigations in cells and in vivo, and opens up an interesting avenue of research.

Fluorescent quinone-based BODIPY hybrids were synthesised and characterised by NMR analysis and mass spectrometry. We measured their cytotoxic activity against cancer and normal cell lines, performed mechanistic studies by lipid peroxidation and determination of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, and imaged their subcellular localisation by confocal microscopy. Cell imaging experiments indicated that nor-β-lapachone-based BODIPY derivatives might preferentially localise in the lysosomes of cancer cells. These results assert the potential of hybrid quinone-BODIPY derivatives as promising prototypes in the search of new potent lapachone antitumor drugs.

Ru nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes were used in the mild oxidation of sulfides to sulfones.

Meso-Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin reacts with aminoalkylphosphoramidates to afford porphyrins substituted with one or four phosphoramidate groups in the 4-position of the meso-aryl groups. The new porphyrin derivatives show high photostability and some are better singlet oxygen generators than meso-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin, a well known good singlet oxygen producer.