Methods of producing singlet oxygen using compounds having improved functionalization

Novel texaphyrin compounds having improved functionalization are described. Metal complexes of these compounds are active as photosensitizers for the generation of singlet oxygen and thus are potentially useful for treatments performed with singlet oxygen. Several of the metallotexaphyrin complexes absorb light in the physiologically important range of 690-880 nm. The complexes form long-lived triplet states and thus may act as efficient photosensitizers for generation of singlet oxygen.