A novel fluorescent BODIPY-based probe for detection of Cu2+ and H2S based on displacement approach.

A new BODIPY-based fluorescent probe (BC-DPA) was prepared by a simple method for Cu2+ detection in aqueous media and living cells. BC-DPA displayed excellent selectivity toward Cu2+via fluorescence "turn-off" mode when a mononuclear Cu(Ⅱ) complex is formed. The corresponding BC-DPA-Cu(Ⅱ) complex, whose structure was characterized by X-ray crystallography, has Cu(Ⅱ) in a distorted octahedral geometry. On the basis of the displacement approach, the fluorescence of BC-DPA-Cu2+ was recovered in the presence of S2-, which allowed the system to act as a sensitive "turn-on" sensor for hydrogen sulfide. Furthermore, BC-DPA exhibited noticeable permeability and low cytotoxicity, making it a useful tool to detect Cu2+ in biosystems.