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 (HSO4−, NO3−, H2PO4−, CN−, BzO−, ClO4−, Br−, F−, I− and CH3CO2−) with biomedical and environmental relevance. The in-vestigated BODIPY derivative demonstrated a selective color change from pink to yellow upon interaction with a hydrogen sulfate anion (HSO4−).