Gold(III) Complexes Containing N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands: Thiol “Switch‐on” Fluorescent Probes and Anti‐Cancer Agents

Abstract

Illuminating results: Activation of non-emissive [AuIII(N N N)(NHC)]+ complexes (such as 1) through reduction by intracellular glutathione gives active AuI–NHC complexes, which show promising anti-cancer properties, accompanied by release of the highly fluorescent ligand. The high fluorescence “switch-on” efficiency makes these AuIII complexes excellent probes for cellular thiol detection.