Corrole dimers as photosensitizers: synthesis and antimicrobial activity studies

Corrole oligomers have emerged as a new class of π-conjugated materials with unique functions allowing to modulate their optical, electrical, and magnetic properties.1 Singly linked (e.g. 1 and 2, Figure 1) and doubly linked (e.g. 3, Figure 1) corrole dimers have been synthesized, via a multistep process that relied on regiospecific Pd-catalysed oxidative coupling reactions or by thermo-oxidative conditions. The electronic spectra of corrole dimers such as 3 fall within the PhotoDynamic Therapy (PDT) therapeutic window (600 –800 nm), which makes them to be considered as promising candidates to be used as photosensitizers (PS). The use of corrole oligomers as PS has not yet been explored. Following our interest in the development of new corrole PS to be used in antimicrobial PhotoDynamic Inactivation (aPDI),3 in this communication will be discussed the potential of corrole dimers to photoinactivate a multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus strain.Also, a peculiar alternative to the synthesis of dimers 1-3 mediated by acidic conditions, as well as their structural, photophysical, and photochemical characterization will be discussed.