Visible-light activatable organic CO-releasing molecules (PhotoCORMs) that simultaneously generate fluorophores

Novel organic photoCORMs based on micelle-encapsulated unsaturated cyclic alpha-diketones were designed and synthesized. These photoCORMs can be activated by visible light, have potentially low toxicity, allow the delivery of carbon monoxide to be monitored by fluorescence imaging techniques, and thus are useful tools for the study of the biological function of CO.