Specifically glyco-substituted porphyrins and chlorins for photodynamic therapy

The present invention provides certain tetrapyrrolic compounds having a structure of Formula 1, 2, or 3: H or O-R is a substituent in the mefa or para position of the phenyl ring, R1 is a glyco-substituent derived from a mono-, di-, or trisaccharide group, and each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a linear or branched (fluoro-)alkyl group with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, phenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 4-(1'-thio-p-D-glucosyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl, 4-(1'-thio-p- D-galactosyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl, mefa- or para-hydroxyphenyl, mefa- or para-carboxyphenyl, and mefa- or para-YO-phenyl with Y being a polyethyleneglycol-residue with (CH2CH2O)nCH3 with n = 1-30.