The realization of CO releasing molecules triggered by light (photoCORMs) within the phototherapeutic window (λ > 600 nm) constitutes an important goal for potential therapeutic applications of the molecules. The activation of photoCORMs with red/NIR light would enable exploiting the higher depth of penetration of this radiation with respect to higher energy photons. In this article we report a family of carbonyl Mn(i) complexes capable of releasing CO when triggered with red light (≥625 nm). Such complexes are based on 2,2'-azopyridine ligands modified by the introduction of electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents. Our results indicate that electron deficient ligands induce a gradual decrease of the HOMO-1/LUMO gap of the species (i.e. of the orbitals involved in the lowest energy transition), thus enabling a fine tuning of their visible absorption maxima between 630 and 693 nm. The synthesis of the complexes and their photodecomposition behaviour towards CO release are described. We suggest that this approach could be generalized for further development of low-energy activated photoCORMs.

Despite its well-known toxicity, carbon monoxide (CO) is now recognized as a potential therapeutic agent. Its inherent toxicity, however, has limited clinical applications because uncontrolled inhalation of the gas leads to severe systemic derangements in higher organisms. In order to obviate life-threatening effects and administer the gas by bypassing the respiratory system, CO releasing molecules (CORMs) have emerged in the last decades as a plausible alternative to deliver controlled quantities of CO in cellular systems and tissues. As stable, solid-storage forms of CO, CORMs can be used to deliver the gas following activation by a stimulus. Light-activated CORMs, known as photoCORMs, are one such example. This class of molecules is particularly attractive because, for possible applications of CORMs, temporal and spatial control of CO delivery is highly desirable. However, systems triggered by visible light are rare. Most currently known photoCORMs are activated with UV light, but red light or even infrared photo-activation is required to ensure that structures deeper inside the body can be reached while minimizing photo-damage to healthy tissue. Thus, one of the most challenging chemical goals in the preparation of new photoCORMs is the reduction of radiation energy required for their activation, together with strategies to modulate the solubility, stability and nontoxicity of the organic or organometallic scaffolds. In this contribution, we review the latest advances in visible light-activated photoCORMs, and the first promising studies on near-infrared light activation of the same.

For the last decade, high-resolution (HR)-MS has been associated with qualitative analyses while triple quadrupole MS has been associated with routine quantitative analyses. However, a shift of this paradigm is taking place: quantitative and qualitative analyses will be increasingly performed by HR-MS, and it will become the common 'language' for most mass spectrometrists. Most analyses will be performed by full-scan acquisitions recording 'all' ions entering the HR-MS with subsequent construction of narrow-width extracted-ion chromatograms. Ions will be available for absolute quantification, profiling and data mining. In parallel to quantification, metabotyping will be the next step in clinical LC-MS analyses because it should help in personalized medicine. This article is aimed to help analytical chemists who perform targeted quantitative acquisitions with triple quadrupole MS make the transition to quantitative and qualitative analyses using HR-MS. Guidelines for the acceptance criteria of mass accuracy and for the determination of mass extraction windows in quantitative analyses are proposed.

Herein we report the synthesis of new water-soluble vitamin B 12 prodrugs bearing metal complexes at the β-upper side of the cobalt center. A total of three derivatives with the general design {Co-CuC-bpy-M}, where M represents a cytotoxic metal complex, were prepared and tested for their cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The choice of the metal was oriented on the eminent Pt and promising Ru and Re species to demonstrate the general applicability of the approach. The recognition of the derivatives by transcobalamin was demonstrated by competitive displacement assays using rhodamine labeled B 12 .This compound further served to prepare a dual luminescent probe by orthogonal synthesis with M = ((HCCbpy)Ru(bpy) 2 )Cl 2 and to perform in vitro assays. Cellular imaging experiments allowed us to observe the different compartmentalization of both dyes and thus prove that the species follow the natural cobalamin uptake as well as the self-triggered release of the β-upper complex.