Two- and three-photon excitable quaternized imidazo[1,2- a]pyridines as mitochondrial imaging and potent cancer therapy agents

Org Biomol Chem. 2020 Oct 7;18(38):7571-7576. doi: 10.1039/d0ob01585g.

Abstract

We have synthesized a series of quaternized imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in three steps from commercially available reagents. These compounds exhibit blue fluorescence emission at around 425 nm with good quantum yields. In addition, one specific compound was found to work as not only a two- and three-photon excitable mitochondria imaging agent, but also a therapeutic agent upon continuous irradiation conditions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Mitochondria* / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Optical Imaging
  • Photons*
  • Pyridines* / chemical synthesis
  • Pyridines* / chemistry
  • Pyridines* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Pyridines
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Imidazoles
  • imidazo(1,2-a)pyridine
  • Fluorescent Dyes