Halides tuning the subcellular-targeting in two-photon emissive complexes via different uptake mechanisms

We reported a simple and universal strategy by tuning halides (Cl, Br and I) in terpyridine-Zn(ii) complexes to achieve different subcellular organelle targeting (nucleolus, nucleus and intracellular membrane systems, respectively) via different cellular uptake mechanisms, resulting from halide triggering different polymorphs of these complexes.