Color-tunable tetracoordinated organoboron complexes exhibiting aggregation-induced emission for the efficient turn-on detection of fluoride ions

Abstract

Three color-tunable tetracoordinated organoboron complexes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics were designed and synthesized. Their photophysical properties were significantly affected by the electron-donating ability of the donors. These air and moisture stable compounds were adopted as fluorescent probes for fluoride ions in an organic solvent, revealing simultaneously good selectivity and reversibility. Crystallography and fluorescence sensing titration experiments revealed that the mechanism of the sensing process is the formation of a novel difluoroboron push–pull system by the introduction of F⁻.