Cyclometalated rhodium and iridium complexes with imidazole containing Schiff bases: Synthesis, structure and cellular imaging

Synthesis of cyclometalated rhodium(III) and iridium(III) complexes of two Schiff base ligands with the general formula [M(ppy)2(Ln)]Cl {M = Rh, Ir; ppy = 2-phenylpyridine; n = 1,2; L = Schiff base ligand} have been reported. The successful applications of these complexes as fluorescent dyes for cell imaging in aqueous solution have been shown.