Responsive and reactive terbium complexes with an azaxanthone sensitiser and one naphthyl group: applications in ratiometric oxygen sensing in vitroand in regioselective cell killingElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis and characterisation data for [Ln·L]OAc; variation of emission spectra as f(pO) in 50/50 water–serum; spectral emission behaviour of [Eu/Tb·L] in 50% aq. human serum albumin solution and low Temission spectra for Gd complexes. See DOI: 10.1039/b920222f

A terbium complex has been designed that may be used to sensitise formation of singlet oxygen (em12%), allowing the creation of a ratiometric sensory system for pO2(versusthe insensitive Eu analogue) and the definition of a reactive probe that can be used to cause local damage to cells loaded with the complex and exposed to laser excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]