Polyhydric Corrole and Its Gallium Complex: Synthesis, DNA‐binding Properties and Photodynamic Activities

A new hydrophilic polyhydric corrole (1) and its Ga(III) complex (1-Ga) were synthesized and characterized. Corroles 1 and 1-Ga bind to calf thymus DNA externally and exhibit remarkable photonuclease-like activity. Singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) was identified as the reactive oxygen species involved. These corroles also exhibit significant photocytotoxicity against HeLa, A549, BEL-7402 and HepG2 tumor cell lines. They mainly accumulated in the nuclei of tumor cells. ROS-mediated mitochondrial damage and intracellular DNA disintegration contributed to the observed photodynamic activity.