near-infrared phosphorescent iridium(III) complex for imaging of cysteine and homocysteine in living cells and in vivo

Based on the cyclization reaction of an aldehyde with an aminoalkyl thiol, a novel NIR-emitting iridium(III) complex (NIR-Ir) showed off-on phosphorescent response toward Cys and Hcy, and was developed to detect Cys/Hcy levels in vitro and in vivo.