A novel fully water-soluble Cu(i) probe for fluorescence live cell imaging

A new Cu(i) probe (OBEP-CS1), bearing an alkyl-pyridinium moiety to get complete water solubility, was synthesized. Fluorescence titrations support copper binding and high selectivity in a water solution whereas formation of aggregates was excluded by DOSY experiments. The detection capability for intracellular Cu(i), especially localized in mitochondria, was demonstrated in differentiated neuroblastoma cells by confocal microscopy. © 2014 the Partner Organisations.