Synthesis of water-soluble hemicoronenediimides by photocyclization of perylenediimides: Turn-on fluorescent probes in water by complexation with Cucurbit[7]uril or binding to G-quadruplex Motifs

A new series of perylene and hemicoronene diimides, obtained by visible light photocyclization, are presented, between them some remarkable examples that are soluble in only water, and give nanoparticles by self-association. Those compounds work as new fluorescent materials in water by complexation with cucurbit[7]uril, as well as selective G-quadruplex binding ligands with remarkable cytotoxic activity when the interaction with G4 was sufficiently strong.