New Meso-ortho-hydroxy-decorating Fluorescent ON-OFF Bodipy sensor to Cu2 +

•One new meso-ortho-hydroxyl-decorating Bodipy compound has been synthesized.•The introduction of meso-ortho-hydroxyl group increases the selectivity of this compound to Cu2 +.•The binding of o-OH with Cu2 +, combined with subsidiary action Bodipy moiety, induces fluorescent ONOFF response to Cu2 +.

A new meso-ortho-hydroxy-modifying Bodipy compound (o-OH-Bodipy) has been designed and synthesized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the slight lean of the meso-phenyl moiety to the o-OH side due to the effect of the o-OH substituent. Systematic optical studies indicate that introduction of the o-OH group onto the meso-phenyl moiety of this compound induces an increased binding affinity and in particular an obvious fluorescence quenching response to Cu2 + on the basis of the photo-induced electronic transition process, endowing o-OH-Bodipy a great potential as highly sensitive fluorescence ONOFF detector for Cu2 + even in the acidic condition.

Graphical abstractA new meso-ortho-hydroxy-modifying Bodipy derivative has been developed. Introduction of the o-OH group onto the meso-phenyl moiety of this compound induces an increase in both selectivity and sensitivity to Cu2 + over all other tested metal ions, rendering o-OH-Bodipy a highly detecting potential towards Cu2 + even in the acidic condition.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide