The Fluorescence Behavior Studies and Applications of Two D‐π‐A Type Imidazolium Analogs.

The fluorescence behaviors and applications of two water‐soluble imidazolium analogs TPI‐1 and TPI‐2 with D‐π‐A structures have been studied. Compound TPI‐1 possessed the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) effect, but TPI‐2 not. Moreover, compound TPI‐1 could serve as a fluorescence turn‐on probe for detecting uridine‐5'‐triphosphate (UTP) in living cells by AIE mechanism, while TPI‐2 was able to penetrate into the cell membranes and light up the living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]