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Updated: Oct 7, 2026

A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
Aqueous LMCT luminescence and intracellular imaging with a redox-active Fe(III)-NHC complex
S Genovese1, A M Cancelliere1, M G Rizzo1
1Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Messina and SOLARCHEM, via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy. fpuntoriero@unime.it.
Abstract:
Luminescent iron(III) complex [Fe(phtmeimb)2]+ retains LMCT emission in aqueous solution and (quasi-)reversible redox chemistry in predominantly aqueous solution, enabling cell imaging without exogenous labels. The complex also shows a cell-type-dependent redox response, establishing one of the first emissive iron probe for intracellular imaging and highlighting its potential as a bifunctional scaffold.

