Water-induced red luminescence in ionic square-planar cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes

A new series of cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes 1-4 soluble in water was synthesized and characterized. Thanks to d8-d8 metal-metal and/or π-π interactions, these complexes are able to self-assembly in aqueous solutions, showing a remarkable color change and luminescence enhancement compared to the single molecule. Interestingly, aggregates luminescence is not quenched by molecular oxygen.77