A highly selective ratiometric bifunctional fluorescence probe for Hg(2+) and F(-) ions

Org Biomol Chem. 2015 Mar 14;13(10):3032-9. doi: 10.1039/c4ob02593h.

Abstract

A triarylborane derivative BN-S, which contains a Hg(2+)-responsive dithioacetal group and a F(-)-responsive boryl group, has been designed and synthesized via the functionalization of 2-dimesitylboryl-2'-(N,N-dimethylamino)biphenyl core skeleton with a dithioacetal substituent. This compound displays intense intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence, even for its nano-aggregates in water. The Hg(2+)-promoted deprotection of the dithioacetal group and complexation of F(-) with the tri-coordinate boron center cause hypochromism of fluorescence to different extents. And thus BN-S behaves as a promising ratiometric bifunctional fluorescence probe to detect Hg(2+) and F(-) simultaneously. In addition, the detection of Hg(2+) is performable in aqueous medium using its nano-aggregates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boron / chemistry
  • Electronics
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Fluorine / chemistry*
  • Ions*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mercury / chemistry*
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Photochemistry
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Ions
  • Water
  • Fluorine
  • Mercury
  • Boron