Boronic acid-linked fluorescent and colorimetric probes for copper ions

Abstract

The first examples of boronic acid-linked fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for copper ions are reported; the monoboronic acid-conjugated rhodamine probe displays a highly selective fluorescent enhancement with Cu 2+ among the various metal ions whereas the fluorescence of the bisboronic acid-conjugated fluorescein probe is selectively quenched by Cu 2+, probably by way of a PET mechanism. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.