Divergent late stage functionalisation of luminescent europium(III) complexes for targeting and imaging applications

An efficient approach to six functionalised europium(III) complexes based on a common alkyne intermediate is exemplified by syntheses with morpholino and triphenylphosphonium moieties exhibiting a dominant lysosomal localisation profile, two dye conjugates showing intramolecular energy transfer, and two competitive antagonists, including vismodegib that binds to a G-protein coupled receptor in the Hedgehog signalling pathway and masupirdine, designed to target the serotonin GPCR.