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N-Heterocyclic carbene-based C-centered Au(I)-Ag(I) clusters with intense phosphorescence and organelle-selective translocation in cells

Author

Listed:
  • Zhen Lei

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Mizuki Endo

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Hitoshi Ube

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Takafumi Shiraogawa

    (Institute for Molecular Science and SOKENDAI, Myodaiji)

  • Pei Zhao

    (Institute for Molecular Science and SOKENDAI, Myodaiji)

  • Koichi Nagata

    (The University of Tokyo
    Tohoku University)

  • Xiao-Li Pei

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Tomoya Eguchi

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • Toshiaki Kamachi

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • Masahiro Ehara

    (Institute for Molecular Science and SOKENDAI, Myodaiji)

  • Takeaki Ozawa

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Mitsuhiko Shionoya

    (The University of Tokyo)

Abstract

Photoluminescent gold clusters are functionally variable chemical modules by ligand design. Chemical modification of protective ligands and introduction of different metals into the gold clusters lead to discover unique chemical and physical properties based on their significantly perturbed electronic structures. Here we report the synthesis of carbon-centered Au(I)-Ag(I) clusters with high phosphorescence quantum yields using N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. Specifically, a heterometallic cluster [(C)(AuI-L)6AgI2]4+, where L denotes benzimidazolylidene-based carbene ligands featuring N-pyridyl substituents, shows a significantly high phosphorescence quantum yield (Φ = 0.88). Theoretical calculations suggest that the carbene ligands accelerate the radiative decay by affecting the spin-orbit coupling, and the benzimidazolylidene ligands further suppress the non-radiative pathway. Furthermore, these clusters with carbene ligands are taken up into cells, emit phosphorescence and translocate to a particular organelle. Such well-defined, highly phosphorescent C-centered Au(I)-Ag(I) clusters will enable ligand-specific, organelle-selective phosphorescence imaging and dynamic analysis of molecular distribution and translocation pathways in cells.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhen Lei & Mizuki Endo & Hitoshi Ube & Takafumi Shiraogawa & Pei Zhao & Koichi Nagata & Xiao-Li Pei & Tomoya Eguchi & Toshiaki Kamachi & Masahiro Ehara & Takeaki Ozawa & Mitsuhiko Shionoya, 2022. "N-Heterocyclic carbene-based C-centered Au(I)-Ag(I) clusters with intense phosphorescence and organelle-selective translocation in cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31891-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31891-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matthew N. Hopkinson & Christian Richter & Michael Schedler & Frank Glorius, 2014. "An overview of N-heterocyclic carbenes," Nature, Nature, vol. 510(7506), pages 485-496, June.
    2. Md. Abu Bakar & Mizuho Sugiuchi & Mitsuhiro Iwasaki & Yukatsu Shichibu & Katsuaki Konishi, 2017. "Hydrogen bonds to Au atoms in coordinated gold clusters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
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    1. Xiao-Hong Ma & Jing Li & Peng Luo & Jia-Hua Hu & Zhen Han & Xi-Yan Dong & Guohua Xie & Shuang-Quan Zang, 2023. "Carbene-stabilized enantiopure heterometallic clusters featuring EQE of 20.8% in circularly-polarized OLED," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Xiao-Li Pei & Pei Zhao & Hitoshi Ube & Zhen Lei & Masahiro Ehara & Mitsuhiko Shionoya, 2024. "Single-gold etching at the hypercarbon atom of C-centred hexagold(I) clusters protected by chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Runnan Guan & Jing Huang & Jinpeng Xin & Muqing Chen & Pingwu Du & Qunxiang Li & Yuan-Zhi Tan & Shangfeng Yang & Su-Yuan Xie, 2024. "A stabilization rule for metal carbido cluster bearing μ3-carbido single-atom-ligand encapsulated in carbon cage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.

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