Development of a boron-dipyrromethene-Cu2+ ensemble based colorimetric probe toward hydrogen sulfide in aqueous media

A boron-dipyrromethene-Cu2+ ensemble based colorimetric probe for detection of hydrogen sulfide in aqueous media is reported. Complex 1-Cu(II) is able to selectively sense hydrogen sulfide over other anions and thiols followed by the release of compound 1 to give a remarkable change of UV absorption in aqueous solution (HEPES (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid) buffer, 50 mM, pH 7.4, 5% DMSO).