A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe based on a BODIPY derivative for Cu2+ detection in aqueous solution

A novel ratiometric chemodosimeter 1 based on a BODIPY derivative bearing a 2-picolinic ester moiety has been designed and synthesized for copper ion (Cu2+) detection in aqueous buffered solution. Among the tested metal ions, only the addition of Cu2+ to probe 1 could lead to a red shift of the emission band from 574 nm to 593 nm, accompanied by a color change from yellow to red under illumination with a 365 nm UV lamp. Mechanism research suggested that probe 1 could be highly selectively hydrolyzed by complexation with Cu2+ to generate a BODIPY derivative bearing 2-picolinic acid. The detection limit was calculated to be 0.08 μM. Moreover, probe 1 could be used to detect Cu2+ in real water samples and on filter paper.