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An Easily Accessible Ionic Aggregation‐Induced Emission Luminogen with Hydrogen‐Bonding‐Switchable Emission and Wash‐Free Imaging Ability
Author(s) -
Chen Yuncong,
Zhang Weijie,
Zhao Zheng,
Cai Yuanjing,
Gong Junyi,
Kwok Ryan T. K.,
Lam Jacky W. Y.,
Sung Herman H. Y.,
Williams Ian D.,
Tang Ben Zhong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201800772
Subject(s) - ionic bonding , aggregation induced emission , hydrogen bond , intramolecular force , chemistry , quenching (fluorescence) , photochemistry , molecule , fluorescence , ion , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Ionic fluorophores are powerful tools for the study of environmental science and bio‐imaging. However, traditional ionic dyes usually require long synthetic steps and suffer from a quenching effect caused by aggregation. A water‐soluble ionic aggregation‐induced emission luminogen called DBTA is presented, which is readily accessed by a one‐step reaction. The switchable emission manipulated by hydrogen bonding provided solid evidence for the restriction of intramolecular motions as the mechanism of aggregation‐induced emission. DBTA can not only differentiate solvents with different H‐bond donor acidities but also capable of wash‐free imaging in living HeLa cells and fish larva.