Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of a Novel BODIPY Derivative as a Colorimetric Chemosensor for Fe³⁺ Recognition

BODIPY derivatives have been proving to be a key class of compounds as a tool for a wide range of research fields. Among the diverse applications of BODIPYs, the development of derivatives owning the ability to recognize and detect small organic molecules and metal ions have received great attention in the last years. Moreover, the BODIPY core can be chemically modified in order to improve the optical properties or add new functionalities as chemosensors, for example insertion of receptor groups selective to analytes. There are diverse cations with biological and environment relevance, such as Fe³⁺ as an important metal ion in several physiological process involving electron transfer, oxidation and also as an enzymatic cofactor for oxygen transport, DNA synthesis, etc. On the other hand, the accumulation of iron in the central nervous system has been implicated in a number of diseases. Therefore, the design of molecular systems for recognition of cations with ‘‘naked-eye’’ detection is an attractive goal.In continuation of our research group’s investigation developed in the field of chromofluorogenic sensors, we report in this work the synthesis, characterization and evaluation of a novel BODIPY derivative as a colorimetric chemosensor for Fe³⁺ recognition in acetonitrile solution.