Synthesis, structure, spectral, electrochemical and sensing properties of 3-amino boron-dipyrromethene and its derivatives

•We developed an alternate route for the synthesis of 3-amino BODIPY.•We isolated and characterized 3-iminotriphenylphosphorane BODIPY.•Using 3-amino BODIPY, we synthesized BODIPYs containing urea/thiourea derivatives.•The thiourea derivative of BODIPY can act as specific chemodosimetric sensor for the detection Hg2+ ion.•The urea derivative of BODIPY can act as specific colorimetric and ratiometric chemosensor for F− ion.

We report the synthesis of 3-amino boron-dipyrromethene (3-amino BODIPY) by treating 3-bromo boron-dipyrromethene (3-bromo BODIPY) initially with sodium azide in acetonitrile followed by triphenylphosphine(PPh3)/H2O in tetrahydrofuran in three steps under mild reaction conditions. In this reaction, 3-azido BODIPY which formed in the first step was not isolated but the 3-iminophosphorane BODIPY which formed in the second step was isolated and characterized crystallographically. The 3-amino BODIPY was characterized by various spectroscopic and X-ray analytical techniques. To test the reactivity of amine functionality on BODIPY core, we prepared 1-(meso-anisyl BODIPY)-3-phenyl urea/thiourea derivatives under simple reaction conditions. Our studies indicated that 1-(meso-anisyl BODIPY)-3-pheny thiourea can act as specific chemodosimetric sensor for Hg2+ ion and 1-(meso-anisyl BODIPY)-3-phenyl urea as colorimetric and ratiometric sensor for F− ion.

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