Anion Colorimetric Chemosensor Based on a Benzimidazole-Functionalized BODIPY Derivative

Abstract

: A BODIPY derivative bearing a benzimidazole unit at position 2 and an electron donor group (anthracene) at the meso position was synthetized and characterized by the usual spectroscopic techniques. The evaluation of the compound as a colorimetric chemosensor was performed in solutions of acetonitrile/water (75:25) in the presence of several anions (HSO 4 − , NO 3 − , H 2 PO 4 − , CN − , BzO − , ClO 4 − , Br − , F − , I − and CH 3 CO 2 − ) with biomedical and environmental relevance. The investigated BODIPY derivative demonstrated a selective color change from pink to yellow upon interaction with a hydrogen sulfate anion (HSO 4 − ).