Real-time detection of oxalyl chloride based on a long-lived iridium(iii) probe.

A series of luminescent iridium(iii) complexes were designed and evaluated for their ability to detect oxalyl chloride ((COCl)) at ambient temperature. In the presence of (COCl), a double amidation reaction takes place at the diamino functionality of complex 1, leading to the switching-on of a long-lived red luminescence with a 9-fold enhanced emission. Complex 1 exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity, with a detection limit for (COCl) at 32 nM. Additionally, complex 1 can be used to detect (COCl) using a simple smartphone, allowing for the portable and real-time monitoring of (COCl).