Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 16, 2025

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Intracellular Ruthenium-Promoted (2+2+2) Cycloadditions
Joan Miguel-Ávila1, María Tomás-Gamasa1, José L Mascareñas1
1Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago, de Compostela, Spain.
Abstract:
Metal-mediated intracellular reactions are becoming invaluable tools in chemical and cell biology, and hold promise for strongly impacting the field of biomedicine. Most of the reactions reported so far involve either uncaging or redox processes. Demonstrated here for the first time is the viability of performing multicomponent alkyne cycloaromatizations inside live mammalian cells using ruthenium catalysts. Both fully intramolecular and intermolecular cycloadditions of diynes with alkynes are feasible, the latter providing an intracellular synthesis of appealing anthraquinones. The power of the approach is further demonstrated by generating anthraquinone AIEgens (AIE=aggregation induced emission) that otherwise do not go inside cells, and by modifying the intracellular distribution of the products by simply varying the type of ruthenium complex.
More Related Videos
09:45Accessing Valuable Ligand Supports for Transition Metals: A Modified, Intermediate Scale Preparation of 1,2,3,4,5-Pentamethylcyclopentadiene
Published on: March 20, 2017
06:46Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Cycloaddition Reactions: Overview
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Thermal Activation
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction
Cyclohexenones via Michael Addition and Aldol Condensation: The Robinson Annulation
Electrophilic 1,2- and 1,4-Addition of X2 to 1,3-Butadiene