BN-heteroacene-cored luminogens with dual channel detection for fluoride anions

Abstract

Very recently, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been extremely extended by replacing CC units with isoelectronic B–N ones, however, BN-containing π-conjugated oligomers or polymers are still very less explored due to the lack of appropriate building blocks. Herein, on the basis of the successful synthesis of a new BN-embedded heteroacene and its brominated derivatives, a series of BN-containing oligomers have been achieved via Suzuki cross-coupling with aryl boronic esters. Their rich photophysical properties and electrochemical behaviors are essentially dependent on the main chain lengths, indicative of the fully-π-conjugated effect of such kinds of luminogens. Furthermore, these BN-containing luminogens enable colorimetric and fluorometric dual channel detection of fluoride ions through binding to the Lewis acid boron atom of the BN moiety in high selectivity and sensitivity.