A novel pyridyl triphenylamine–BODIPY aldoxime: Naked-eye visible and fluorometric chemodosimeter for hypochlorite

An aldoxime containing fluorescent probe based on vinylpydine-appended triphenylamine-BODIPY has been designed and used for hypochlorite detection. OX-PPA-BODIPY was developed by introducing an aldoxime group into the 2-position of BODIPY, which can be used for the detection of hypochlorite with a sharp color change from pink to green. The attachment of 4-vinylpyridine moiety to triphenylamine-BODIPY constructs a fluorogen with desirable conjugated system. The probe, which displays extremely weak fluorescence owing to the CN isomerization mechanism at 2-position of BODIPY, responds to HClO/ClO- through a dramatic enhancement of its fluorescence intensity. This new probe, a naked-eye visible and fluorometric chemodosimeter, exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity toward hypochlorite over other reactive oxygen species (ROS) and anions. The detection is accompanied by a 20-fold increase in fluorescent intensity (ΦF from 0.02 to 0.43). The detection limit of the probe for hypochlorite is 7.37×10-7M. Moreover, OX-PPA-BODIPY can be used to detect hypochlorite in real water samples.