Hexa-BODIPY Linked-Triazole Based on a Cyclotriphosphazene Core as a Highly Selective and Sensitive Fluorescent Sensor for Fe(2+) Ions

A new type of fluorescent chemosensor based on tethered hexa-borondipyrromethene cyclotriphosphazene platform (HBTC) linked via triazole groups was designed and synthesized. Its sensing behavior toward metal ions was investigated by ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopies. Addition of a Fe(2+) ion to a tetrahydrofuran solution of HBTC gave a visual color change as well as a significantly quenched fluorescence emission, while other tested 19 metal ions induced no color or spectral changes. This compound was found to be highly selective and sensitive for Fe(2+) with a low limit of detection (2.03 μM) which is, to the best of our knowledge, the superior than the previously studied chemosensors for Fe(2+). Graphical Abstract ᅟ.