Mitochondria are the control centers of apoptosis. To study mitochondrial dynamics during apoptosis, four phosphorescent fluorinated iridium(III) complexes (Ir1–Ir4) were designed and synthesized. The complexes' emission maxima, phosphorescent quantum yields, and phosphorescent lifetimes are tuned by the degree of fluorination of the ligand. The complexes exhibit excellent photostability and low (photo)cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. As the complexes are cationic and lipophilic, they localize in mitochondria and enter cells through an energy-independent pathway. In comparison with commercially available mitochondrial trackers (e.g., MTR), Ir1–Ir4 exhibit high specificity to mitochondria even in fixed cells. Due to these outstanding properties, the complexes were successfully used to track mitochondrial dynamics during apoptosis.

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磷光氟化铱（iii）配合物跟踪细胞凋亡过程中的线粒体动力学†

线粒体是细胞凋亡的控制中心。为了研究细胞凋亡过程中的线粒体动力学，设计并合成了四种磷光氟化铱（III）配合物（Ir1-Ir4）。配合物的氟化程度可调节配合物的发射最大值，磷光量子产率和磷光寿命。该复合物在HeLa细胞中显示出极好的光稳定性和低（光）细胞毒性。由于复合物是阳离子和亲脂性的，因此它们位于线粒体中，并通过能量非依赖性途径进入细胞。与市售的线粒体跟踪仪（例如MTR）相比，Ir1-Ir4甚至在固定细胞中也表现出对线粒体的高度特异性。由于这些突出的特性，复合物已成功用于跟踪细胞凋亡过程中的线粒体动力学。