Cyclometalated iridium–BODIPY ratiometric O(2) sensors

Here we introduce a new class of ratiometric O(2) sensors for hypoxic environments. Two-component structures composed of phosphorescent cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes and the well-known organic fluorophore BODIPY have been prepared by the 1 : 1 reaction of bis-cyclometalated iridium synthons with pyridyl-substituted BODIPY compounds. Two different cyclometalating ligands are used, which determine the relative energies of the iridium-centered and BODIPY-centered excited states, and the nature of the linker between iridium and BODIPY also has a small influence on the photoluminescence. Some of the conjugates exhibit dual emission, with significant phosphorescence from the iridium site and fluorescence from the BODIPY, and thus function as ratiometric oxygen sensors. Oxygen quenching experiments demonstrate that as O(2) is added the phosphorescence is quenched while the fluorescence is unaffected, with dynamic ranges that are well suited for hypoxic sensing (pO(2) < 160 mmHg).