Turning on Light Emission of a Dark Pro‐Aggregation‐Induced Emission Luminogen in Aqueous Media Through Reductase‐Modulated Derotation

The development of dark pro-aggregation-induced-emission luminogens (pro-AIEgens) based on the solid-state intramolecular motion–caused quenching effect has been rarely reported in biochemical analysis. Herein, an azo-conjugated pro-AIEgen derived from tetraphenylethene is constructed. Due to active molecular motion azo bond, it retains a nonemissive property both solution and solid forms. obtained can be internalized by living cells undergo reductase-modulated derotation under hypoxia emit light. It shows increasing fluorescence when intracellular oxygen concentration becomes lower, making potential probe sense hypoxic environment. present also visualize environment created photodynamic therapy treatment.