Visible light-triggered photoswitchable diarylethene-based iridium(III) complexes for imaging living cells.

A novel diarylethene-based iridium(III) complex was synthesized as a phosphorescence probe for monitoring living cells. The switchable phosphorescence complex in solution and within living cells was controlled by two distinguishable visible-light irradiations, which suggests that this complex can be developed as a promising probe with weak photodamage for biological samples.