Synthesis, Crystal Structures, Photophysical Properties, and Bioimaging of Living Cells of Bis-β-Diketonate Phenothiazine Ligands and Its Cyclic Dinuclear Complexes

Two bis-β-diketones, RCOCH2CO-EPTZ-COCH2COR (EPTZ = 10-ethylphenothiazine; R = C6H5 for H2L1 and CF3 for H2L2) and their cyclic dinuclear Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized. Their crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Their photophysical properties have been further investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The results revealed that significant enhancement of two-photon absorption cross section values were obtained for the cyclic dinuclear Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes compared with their free ligands. Additionally, confocal microscopy and two-photon microscopy fluorescent imaging of MCF-7 cells labeled with two ligands and Zn(II) complexes reveal their potential applications as a biological fluorescent probe.