Monitoring　hypochlorite　anion　(ClO−)　in　living　cells　is　particularly　meaningful　and　valuable,　because　over-exposure　of　the　ClO−　may　cause　a　potential　health　hazard　towards　animals　and　humans.　Considering　the　special　structure　and　properties　of　the　gemini　surfactant,　a　novel　amphiphilic　gemini-iridium　complex　Ir[(ppy-iso)2(bpy-tma2Br2)]　(Ir-iso)　with　isoniazide　as　a　recognition　site　for　ClO−　was　designed.　The　Ir-iso　possessed　an　excellent　water-solubility　as　well　as　a　strong　ClO−　binding　capacity,　as　revealed　from　the　rapid　response　of　emission　signal　towards　ClO−.　It　was　worth　noting　that　such　probe　had　a　highly-specific　selectivity　with　a　low　detection　limit　(20.5　nM)　and　was　suitable　in　physiological　environment.　The　cell　viability　assay,　cell　imaging,　and　co-location　studies　further　proved　that　the　Ir-iso　had　little　cytotoxicity　and　was　specifically　localized　in　the　mitochondria　of　breast　cancer　cells,　being　a　promising　candidate　of　chemo-sensor　to　detect　the　endogenous　ClO−　in　living　cells.　©　2019