Two　new　cyclometalated　iridium(III)　complexes　[(ppy)2Irppz]Cl　(1)　and　[(ppy)2Irbppz]Cl　(2)　(where　ppy　=　2-phenylpyridine,　ppz　=　4,7-phenanthrolino-5,6:5,6-pyrazine,　bppz　=　2.3-di-2-pyridylpyrazine),　were　designed　and　synthesized.　The　structure　of　[(ppy)2Irppz]Cl　was　determined　by　single　crystal　X-ray　diffraction.　Their　photophysical　properties　were　also　studied.　This　kind　of　complexes　could　coordinate　with　Cu2　+,　the　photoluminescence　(PL)　of　the　complex　was　quenched,　and　the　color　changed　from　orange-red　to　green.　The　forming　M–Cu　(M:　complexes　1　and　2)　ensemble　could　be　further　utilized　as　a　colorimetric　and　emission　“turn-on”　bifunctional　detection　for　CN−,　especially　for　complex　1-Cu2　+　showed　a　high　sensitivity　toward　CN−　with　a　limit　of　diction　is　97　nM.　Importantly,　this　kind　of　iridium(III)　complexes　shows　a　unique　recognition　of　cyanide　ions　over　other　anions　which　makes　it　an　eligible　sensing　probe　for　cyanide　ions.　©　2016　Elsevier　B.V.