Efficient two-step synthesis of water soluble BODIPY–TREN chemosensors for copper(II) ions

Two simple fluorescent sensors for Cu(II) ions were synthesized in two reaction steps, using recently developed C–H functionalization reactions for boron dipyrrins, starting from a standard 8-aryl-BODIPY dye and a tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) ligand. At pH 5, the resulting BODIPY–TREN conjugates are demonstrated to be promising, highly selective, water soluble, Cu(II) sensors that can permeate the cell membrane.