An Efficient Probe of Cyclometallated Phosphorescent Iridium Complex for Selective Detection of Cyanide

A cyclometallated phosphorescent
iridium-based probe to detect
CN– was prepared through a cyanide alcoholize reaction
based on the C^N type main ligand and N^N type ancillary ligand (2-phenyl
pyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline-5-carboxaldehyde, respectively).
The efficient probe exhibited good sensitivity in response to CN– in an CH3CN and H2O (95/5) mixture
within a 1.23 μM detection limit. The response of PL is directly
in line with the concentration of CN– from 0 to
2.0 equiv. The PL investigation of other reactive anions proved the
great selectivity to CN–. Additionally, upon adding
1.0 equiv. of cyanide, the formation of cyanohydrin was correctly
elucidated in 1H NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectra studies.
The conspicuous results indicate that the iridium complex has the
potential possibility of application in other biosystems related to
CN–.