A novel mesoionic carbene based highly fluorescent Pd(ii) complex as an endoplasmic reticulum tracker in live cells.

A recent study advocates that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction may be linked to critical neurotrauma and advanced tauopathy. In this regard, targeting the ER warrants urgent attention towards the therapeutic treatment of neurotrauma-related neurodegeneration. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new N-heterocyclic mesoionic carbene based highly fluorescent square-planar Pd(ii) complex 1, with a high quantum yield (0.737). Probe 1 is a non-toxic probe for selectively labeling the endoplasmic reticulum in live cells.