E-Bodipy fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+ ion

Abstract

A novel ethynylpyridine containing E-Bodipy, 2 was synthesized from a Bodipy precursor 1 and its chemosensing properties towards various transition metal ions including Fe3+, Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Hg2+ were investigated. A large fluorescence enhancement of 2 was observed upon treatment with Zn2+ whereas addition of Fe3+, Co2+, or Cu2+ caused fluorescence quenching of 2, which suggests its potential application as a turn-on fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+. The photophysical behaviors of 1 and 2 were characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. In addition, the structure and electronic properties of 1,2 and its metal complex with Zn2+ were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.