A BODIPY derivative as a colorimetric, near-infrared and turn-on chemosensor for Cu2+.

A new colorimetric and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent chemosensor (1) for Cu(2+) based on BODIPY has been synthesized and investigated in this work. 1 Displays a high selectivity for Cu(2+) with about 250-fold enhancement in fluorescence emission intensity and micromolar sensitivity (K(d)=2.8±0.3 μM) in comparison with alkali and alkaline earth metal ions (Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+)) and other metal ions (Ba(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Fe(2+), Pb(2+), Ni(2+), Co(2+), Ag(+)) upon excitation at 635 nm in CH(3)CN. Meanwhile, the distinct color changes and rapid switch-on fluorescence also provide 1 as colorimetric senor for Cu(2+).