Remote Terpyridine Integrated NHC-IrIII Luminophores as Potential Dual-Emissive Ratiometric O2 Probes

A new class of bi-luminophoric dyad has been designed, consisting of an oxygen-sensitive phosphorescent NHC-Ir-III center with a remotely integrated oxygen-insensitive fluorescent terpyridine unit. The new terpyridine flurophore-integrated NHC-Ir-III molecule was demonstrated as a potential ratiometric O-2 probe with built-in internal reference, exhibiting tunable dual-emissive features, as well as highly linear and reversible O-2-response behavior.