title: A functional ruthenium(ii) complex for imaging biothiols in living bodies.
abstract: A unique ruthenium(ii) complex, [Ru(bpy)2(DNS-bpy)](PF6)2 [bpy: 2,2'-bipyridine, DNS-bpy: 4-(2,4-dinitrophenylthio)-2,2'-bipyridine], that can act as a probe for the recognition and luminescence sensing of biothiols has been designed and synthesized. Due to the presence of effective photo-induced electron transfer (PET) from the potent electron donor (Ru-bpy centre) to the strong electron acceptor (2,4-dinitrophenyl moiety), the Ru(ii) complex itself is weakly luminescent. Reaction of [Ru(bpy)2(DNS-bpy)](PF6)2 with biothiols leads to the replacement of the 2,4-dinitrophenyl moiety by biothiols, which results in the loss of PET within the complex, to allow recovery of the MLCT-based emission of the Ru(ii) complex with an 80-fold increase in luminescence intensity. Taking advantage of the high specificity and sensitivity, and the excellent photophysical properties of Ru(ii) complexes, [Ru(bpy)2(DNS-bpy)](PF6)2 was successfully applied to the luminescence imaging of biothiols in living Daphnia magna. The results demonstrated the practical applicability of [Ru(bpy)2(DNS-bpy)](PF6)2 as a luminescent probe for the monitoring of biothiols in living bodies.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China. jlyuan@dlut.edu.cn.
authors: Zhiqiang
authors: Z
authors: Ye
authors: Quankun
authors: Q
authors: Gao
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: An
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Song
authors: Jingli
authors: J
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D015082:2,2'-Dipyridyl / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D003621:Daphnia / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport; D004583:Electrons; D005978:Glutathione / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D049449:Luminescence; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D015082:2,2'-Dipyridyl; D012428:Ruthenium; D005978:Glutathione