Design, Synthesis, and Application of Photoactive Complexes of Biologically Relevant Metals

Photo-labile organic molecules have been broadly utilized as photoprotective groups (PPGs) in “caging compounds”. Inactive caged analyte can be easily introduced in its active form to the system under investigation by photolysis of the PPG. This light induced manipulation permits release of the analyte and allows for spatial and temporal control of its concentration. Photocages presented within utilize specific strategy of metal release that relies on decrease in metal-ligand interaction triggered by delocalization of lone pair of electrons on the metal coordinating nitrogen(s). Synthesis and photochemical properties of nitrobenzhydrol based photocages of Zn2+ and Ni2+ are presented and discussed