Luminescent Rhenium(I) Polypyridine Complexes Appended with a Perylene Diimide or Benzoperylene Monoimide Moiety: Photophysics, Intracellular Sensing, and Photocytotoxic Activity.

This communication reports novel luminescent rhenium(I) polypyridine complexes appended with a perylene diimide (PDI) or benzoperylene monoimide (BPMI) moiety via a non-conjugated linker. The photophysical and photochemical properties originating from the interactions of the metal polypyridine and perylene units were exploited to afford new cellular reagents with thiol-sensing capability and excellent photocytotoxic activity.