New ruthenium(II) complexes functionalized with coumarin derivatives: Synthesis, energy-transfer-based sensing of esterase, cytotoxicity, and imaging studies

Abstract

Two new bichromophoric ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy) 2(bpy-CM)](PF 6) 2 and [Ru(bpy) 2(bpy-CM343)](PF 6) 2 (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, CM=coumarin) with appended coumarin ligands have been designed and synthesized. The energy-transfer-based sensing of esterase by the complexes has been studied by using UV/Vis and luminescence spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxicity and the cellular uptake of one of the complexes have also been investigated. Woodruff-not only tasty! Two new bichromophoric ruthenium(II) complexes with appended coumarin ligands have been synthesized. The energy-transfer-based sensing of esterase by the complexes was studied by using UV/Vis and luminescence spectroscopy. The Ru II complex containing a coumarin 343 derivative was found to exhibit only a slight cytotoxicity towards HepG2 cells, and it was easily taken up in the living cells to show evident response to the esterase (see figure). Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.