Luminescent biscyclometalated iridium(III) complex for selective and switchable Cu2+ ion binding in aqueous media

A luminescent biscyclometalated iridium(III) complex Ir1 has been synthesized and characterized. The emission of Ir1 was selectively quenched by Cu2+ ion. Interestingly, the emission was reversibly recovered by the addition of I−, indicating that Ir1 should act as an excellent ON-OFF-switching phosphorescent sensor for Cu2+ ion in aqueous media.