A BODIPY Based Fluorescent Probe for the Rapid Detection of Hypochlorite

A new boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorescent dye aimed at sensitively detecting hypochlorite anion (ClO^-) has been designed, synthesized and characterized. The probe is comprised of a BODIPY fluorophore unit and a ClO^- specific reactive group of amidoxime. The addition of hypochlorite results in a red-shift of absorption and emission spectra of the probe accompanied by a decrease of intensity and spectra changes (A₅₀₀ and 1/I₅₁₂) of the probe can achieve a good linearity to the concentration of ClO^-. The fluorescence probe can react to ClO^- rapidly (within 60 s) in a wide pH range (4-10) with high sensitivity (detection limit of 6.81 μM) and selectivity. The reaction mechanism has been proposed and confirmed by MS analysis, ClO^- anion oxidizes amidoxime moiety to hydroxyl group and hydroxyl group is further oxidized to formyl group in the formation of a corresponding aldehyde compound. In addition, the probe has also been successfully applied to detect ClO^- in tap water and river water samples by spiking a known amount of standard ClO^-.