Preparation of fluoride anion responsive poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-borane complexes

A series of novel fluoride anion responsive materials were facilely prepared by complex formation of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) with organoboron compounds in tetrahydrofuran. After addition of fluoride anion, visual color changes of fluorescence emission from green to blue were observed. The 11B NMR spectra shown that poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-borane complexes were converted to poly(N-vinylcarbazole) and fluoroborate in the presence of fluoride anion. Among the obtained poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-borane complexes prepared, poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-triethylborane complex exhibited the most distinct visual changes in fluorescence emissions.