A Highly Selective OFF-ON Red-Emitting Phosphorescent Thiol Probe with Large Stokes Shift and Long Luminescent Lifetime

An OFF-ON red-emitting phosphorescent thiol probe is designed by using the (MLCT)-M-3 photophysics of Ru(II) complexes, i.e., with Ru(II) as the electron donor. The probe is non-luminescent because the MLCT is corrupted by electron transfer from Ru(II) to an intramolecular electron sink (2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl). Thiols cleave the electron sink, and the MLCT is re-established. Phosphorescence at 598 nm was enhanced by 90-fold, with a 143 nm (5256 cm(-1)) Stokes shift and a 1.1 mu s luminescent lifetime.