Guest-Responsive Near-Infrared-Luminescent Metal–Organic Cage Organized by Porphyrin Dyes and Yb(III) Complexes

Abstract

Metal–organic cages (MOCs) with luminophores have significant advantages for the facile detection of specific molecules based on turn-on or turn-off luminescence changes induced by host–guest complexation. One important challenge is the development of turn-on-type near-infrared (NIR)-luminescent MOCs. In this study, we synthesized a novel MOC consisting of two porphyrin dyes linked by four Yb(III) complexes, which exhibit bimodal red and NIR fluorescence signals upon photoexcitation of the porphyrin π system. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis and computational molecular modeling revealed that planar aromatic perfluorocarbons were intercalated into the MOC. The tight packing between the MOC and guests enhanced the NIR fluorescence of Yb(III) by suppressing energy transfer from the photoexcited porphyrin to oxygen molecules. Guest-responsive turn-on NIR fluorescence changes in an MOC were successfully demonstrated.