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Unveiling Luminescent Ir(I) and Rh(I) N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Structure, Photophysical Specifics, and Cellular Localization in the Endoplasmic Reticulum

Complexes of Rh(I) and Ir(I) of the [M(COD)(NHC)X] type (where M=Rh or Ir, COD=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene, and X=halide) have recently shown promising cytotoxic activities against several cancer cell lines. Initial mechanism of action studies provided some knowledge about their i...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Daubit, Isabelle Marie, Wortmann, Svenja, Siegmund, Daniel, Hahn, Stephan, Nuernberger, Patrick, Metzler‐Nolte, Nils
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8252781/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33755263
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.202100375
Descripción
Sumario:Complexes of Rh(I) and Ir(I) of the [M(COD)(NHC)X] type (where M=Rh or Ir, COD=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene, and X=halide) have recently shown promising cytotoxic activities against several cancer cell lines. Initial mechanism of action studies provided some knowledge about their interaction with DNA and proteins. However, information about their cellular localization remains scarce owing to luminescence quenching within this complex type. Herein, the synthesis of two rare examples of luminescent Rh(I) and Ir(I) [M(COD)(NHC)I] complexes with 1,8‐naphthalimide‐based emitting ligands is reported. All new complexes are comprehensively characterized, including with single‐crystal X‐ray structures. Steric crowding in one derivative leads to two distinct rotamers in solution, which apparently can be distinguished both by pronounced NMR shifts and by their respective spectral and temporal emission signatures. When the photophysical properties of these new complexes are exploited for cellular imaging in HT‐29 and PT‐45 cancer cell lines, it is demonstrated that the complexes accumulate predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum, which is an entirely new finding and provides the first insight into the cellular localization of such Ir(I)(NHC) complexes.