Colorimetric and fluorometric pH sensor based on bis(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl functionalized BODIPY

•Bis(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl functionalized BODIPY.•Optic pH sensor.•Alkaline sensitive sensor.

We report a difluoroboradiaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) dye substituted with bis(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl at 3 and 5 positions as a near-IR colorimetric and fluorometric “on-off” pH sensor. The sensor absorbs and emits light at ca. 600 nm with high absorbance and fluorescence intensities (log(ε) = 5.0, φf = 0.77 in ethanol) and basification causes dramatic changes on these optical properties. The sensor reversibly responses to pH changes between 7.0 and 10.0 in ethanol/water and can easily be synthesized from 1,9-diformyldipyrromethane with a one pot procedure.

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