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

Zhen Lei, Mizuki Endo, Hitoshi Ube, Takafumi Shiraogawa, Pei Zhao, Koichi Nagata, Xiao-Li Pei, Tomoya Eguchi, Toshiaki Kamachi, Masahiro Ehara (), Takeaki Ozawa () and Mitsuhiko Shionoya ()
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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
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

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31891-3

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