WATER-SOLUBLE NAPHTHALENE DERIVATIVES AS SINGLET OXYGEN (O-1(2), (1)DELTA(G)) CARRIERS FOR BIOLOGICAL MEDIA

The synthesis of anionic, cationic, and non-ionic water-soluble naphth alene derivative are described. Their water solubility at 37 degrees C is always greater than 10(-2) M. The corresponding endoperoxides are prepared by chemical oxidation (H2O2/Na2MoO4) Or by photo-oxidation (O -2/h nu/photosensitizer). The overall rate constants, k(f) + k(q) of O -1(2) quenching by naphthalene derivatives are measured using flash ph otolysis. Determination of the half-times of the decomposition and the yield of O-1(2) generated from all the endoperoxides on thermolysis a t 37 degrees C showed that within 2 h almost all of the trapped oxygen is released, half of which is in the excited singlet state, Diffusion rates of these carriers through an artificial lipidic membrane are ab out ten times lower for the ionic molecules than for the non-ionic com pounds. Therefore, according to their physico-chemical properties, the se naphthalene derivatives should be suitable as chemical sources of p ure O-1(2) in biological media.