Highly selective sensing of ClO4− in water with a simple cationic iridium(III) complex and its application in bioimaging

• A simple iridium(III)–based sensor was facilely synthesized for sensing of ClO4− with high selectivity.
• The sensor exhibits luminescence turn–on response to ClO4− in water and living cells.
• Aggregation-induced emission was proposed for sensing of ClO4−.

Anion sensing by optical sensors has gained considerable attention. Perchlorate ions readily exist in water medium. Sensing of ClO4− in water and living cells is still poorly studied. In this work, we demonstrate an efficient strategy for sensing of ClO4− in water and imaging ClO4− with red emission in cells by using a facilely synthesized cationic cyclometalated iridium(III) complex. Taking advantage of aggregation–induced emission enhancement (AIEE), this iridium(III)–based sensor with weak emission in water displayed clear emission enhancement in presence of ClO4−. It is also demonstrated that the sensing process in water would not be interfered by Hg2+ which is capable of quenching emission of the sensor in THF.

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