New supramolecular Au(I)-Cu(I) complex as potential luminescent label for proteins.

A novel supramolecular [Au6Cu2(C2C6H4-4-COONC4H4O2)6(Ph2PC6H4PPh2)3](PF6)2 complex functionalized with a succinimide ester alkynyl substituent has been synthesized and characterized using X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. Like the other complexes of this class, it demonstrates bright emission in acetone and dichloromethane solutions with the excited state lifetime in a microsecond domain. This complex readily reacts with a surface amine group of proteins/enzymes (human serum albumin (HSA), rabbit anti-HSA antibodies, soybean trypsin inhibitor, and α-chymotrypsin) to give covalent conjugates, which contain up to five molecules of the luminescent label bound to the biomolecule. The conjugates keep a high level of the phosphorescent label emission, but in contrast to the parent complex molecule, display excellent solubility and high stability in physiological media. Investigation of the biological activity of the conjugates also showed that the specific structure of the biomolecules remained nearly unchanged upon bonding with the label, which is indicative of a very prospective of the conjugates application in biomolecular detection.

Cyclometallated platinum(II) complexes containing NHC ligands: synthesis, characterization, photophysics and their application as emitters in OLEDs.

A series of square planar [Pt(N^C)(NHC)L] complexes containing cyclometallated N^C ligands (phenylpyridine and benzoquinoline) and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)--N^C = 2-phenylpyridine, 7,8-benzoquinoline; NHC = 1,3-dibenzylbenzimidazolium, 1,3-diethylbenzimidazolium, 1,3-dibenzylimidazolium; L = Cl, Br, -C2Ph--have been synthesized in moderate to good yields. The complexes obtained were characterized using chemical analysis, MS-ESI spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The complexes display moderate to strong phosphorescence in solution (Q.Y. 0.3-7.9%) and in the solid state (Q.Y. 2.7-16.0%), which is related to metal modulated intraligand π-π* transitions located at the aromatic system of cyclometallated ligands with some contribution of the MLCT excited state. Emission lifetimes fall in the range of 0.2-1.5 µs in solution and amount up to 13 µs in the solid state. Analysis of the spectroscopic data together with the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations clearly support this assignment and show negligible contribution of the auxiliary ligands to the emissive excited states. The compounds obtained were also used to prepare organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices, which display good luminance efficiency emitting in the green area of the visible spectrum.

Water-soluble noncovalent adducts of the heterometallic copper subgroup complexes and human serum albumin with remarkable luminescent properties.

Novel water-soluble noncovalent adducts of the heterometallic copper subgroup complexes and human serum albumin (HSA) display strong phosphorescence, internalize into HeLa cells and can be used in time-resolved fluorescent imaging.