title: A water-soluble and highly phosphorescent cyclometallated iridium complex with versatile sensing capability.
abstract: A water-soluble and highly phosphorescent cyclometallated iridium complex [(pq)2Ir(bpy-COOK)]+Cl-(where pq=2-phenylquinoline, bpy-COOK= potassium 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylate) (Ir) has been synthesized and characterized. Its phosphorescence can be sensitively and selectively quenched by tryptophan through a photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) process. Furthermore, the phosphorescence of Ir is drastically increased upon binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the enhanced signal is effectively quenched in the presence of Cu2+. Thus, Ir can be used as a multifunctional chemosensor for tryptophan, BSA, and Cu2+determination as well as for cell imaging.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China. Electronic address: qsong@jiangnan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qijun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Medical School, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Qingfeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pang
keywords: Cell imaging; Cu(2+); Iridium complex; Phosphorescence; Tryptophan