A highly emissive cruciform triarylborane as a ratiometric and solid state fluorescence sensor for fluoride ions

We disclosed a novel cruciform tri-coordinate organoboron compound, 2′,5′-bis{[(4-dimesitylboryl)phenyl]ethynyl}-1′,4′-bis[(4-N,N-diphenylamino)phenyl]-[1,1′:4′,1′]terphenyls, which displays a characteristic intramolecular charge transfer transition and is highly emissive both in solutions and solid state. The complexation with fluoride ions induces a large blue shift in fluorescence, enabling ratiometric fluorescence sensing of fluoride. In addition, its prompt response to fluoride ions was also observed even in the solid state.