The present invention provides biologically active compounds and methods to obtain biologically active compounds that can be used as photosensitizers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, particularly for PDT of cancer, infections and other hyperproliferative diseases, fluorescence diagnosis and PDT treatment of non-tumorous indications such as arthritis, inflammatory diseases, viral or bacterial infections, dermatological, ophthalmological or urological disorders. As the compounds exhibit also toxicity against targets (tumor cells, bacteria, inflammation-related cells) without light these biologically active compounds may also be used for the light-independent treatment of such indications. Preferred embodiments of the present invention consist of methods to synthesize metal or half-metal complex structures incorporating one or more substituted 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl-dipyrromethene (2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyldipyrrin) units. These dipyrromethenes (dipyrrins) can carry a variety of different substituents in the 4-position enabling a fine tuning of their biological or amphiphilic/hydrophilic properties. Another object of the present invention is to provide amphiphilic compounds with a higher membrane affinity and increased efficacy.
