The literature on the synthesis and the biological properties of boron-containing chlorins and phthalocyanines is reviewed. A series of homologous derivatives of pyropheophorbide A is described. The compounds contain the B12H11SH2- cluster attached to the single carboxyl group and vary in the length of the alkyl chain (methyl, propyl, pentyl, heptyl and nonyl) attached via an ether linkage to the former vinyl group. Cellular uptake was found for all derivatives except the nonyl sidechain. The compounds were moderately cell-toxic. Localization in lysosomes could be excluded; the compounds localized probably in the mitochondria.