Quantum yield bioimaging

The conversion of squaraine 19a to the rotaxane 18 D 19a causes a modest red-shift only in both absorption (10 nm) and emission (7 nm) but an approximately threefold decrease in quantum yield. The addition of two triazole rings (dye 19b) did not significantly alter the quantum yield of 17b (Table 4). A macrocycle-induced quenching effect was verified by fluorescence titration experiments adding aliquots of 18 to a solution of squaraine 17b in methylene chloride [58]. Treatment of the 18 d 17b psuedorotaxane system with the tetrabutylammonium salts of chloride, acetate, or benzoate leads to the displacement of squaraine 17b from the macrocyclic cavity and the nearly complete restoration of its fluorescence intensity. The 18-induced quenching of 17b does not support the utility of this system as a bioimaging probe however, the pseudorotaxane system 18 Z> 17b acts as an effective and selective anion sensor with NIR fluorescence. 

In conclusion, it should be noted that fluorene derivatives 16 and 22, with large two-photon absorption cross sections, high fluorescence quantum yields and high photochemical stabihty imder one- and two-photon excitation are outstanding candidates for various linear and nonhnear optical apphcations, especially 3D fluorescence bioimaging. 

Iridium metal compounds have shown some remarkable effects recently for luminescent properties such as very high photoluminescent quantum yields [27, 29, 44] and high stability [46]. Two reviews [2, 4] have recently reported on phosphorescent heavy-metal complexes (Re, Ru, Os, Ir, and Rh) as bioimaging probes, including their photophysical properties, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake mechanisms [2], and on transition metals (Ir, Re, Ru) in fluorescent cell imaging applications such as uptake and toxicity [4], respectively. 

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